Ashley Du Preez in hospital with suspected fracture - Kaizer Chiefs

The forward was substituted on the stroke of half-time in their 1-0 defeat against Cape Town City on the final day of the DStv Premiership following a gruesome tackle by defender Taariq Fielies. 

Referee Moses Kheswa sent Fielies off for the challenge, and although Du Preez carried on playing he didn’t last long on the pitch. 

At his post-match press conference, City coach Eric Tinkler – having not yet watched the replay – said he felt the red card was harsh. 

But Amakhosi media officer Vina Maphosa then followed up the visiting coach’s remarks by giving an update on Du Preez. 

“Without being prejudice, the player Ashley Du Preez has been admitted to hospital with a suspected fracture to his leg. So it might be more serious than it looked,” he told journalists. 

Chiefs in fact sent two players for an assessment during the game, the other being another attacker in Khama Billiat. 

The Zimbabwean returned to action for the first time since October last year as he nursed a groin injury, and after replacing Du Preez late in the second half he did not emerge from the change room after half-time. 

Billiat went into the tunnel limping and the club fears the worst for a player whose contract expires on 30 June.