Latest news with #MduduziShabalala
The South African
4 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
THREE Kaizer Chiefs youngsters under the transfer microscope
Kaizer Chiefs are spending freely before the Betway Premiership season. This means a lot of players need to pull their socks up. Mduduzi Shabalala started the 2024-2025 season encouragingly but fell off as the climax approached. Samkelo Zwane's future is also unclear, with the club pursuing holding midfielders in the market. Finally, some good news for Kaizer Chiefs fans Let the 'Mayele to Kaizer Chiefs' nonsense be a lesson to us all At the start of 2024-2025, Mdu Shabalala was a critical component in the Chiefs side, operating from the number 10 role. His output was healthy, too. However, that dwindled dramatically. After 27 league appearances, he scored four goals and claimed a solitary assist. He was limited to a substitute's cameo in Chiefs' Nedbank Cup win over Orlando Pirates. Only a bold man would predict that Mduduzi Shabalala will leave Chiefs in the winter, but his long-term prospects don't look great. The writing isn't on the wall yet, however, and it's up to the player to prove how much he wants to become a legend at the club. Pitso's son heads to Italy Mfundo 'Obrigado' Vilakazi is still only 19, so time is on his side, but a player of his talent needs to start more games, more often. If Gaston Sirino is slowly phased out of the side, then Vilakazi's route to the first team could be clearer. Meanwhile, stylish 23-year-old holding midfielder Samkelo Zwane might need to look elsewhere for opportunities. Thabo Cele and Sibongiseni Mthethwa are the likely starting pair in midfield, but Siphesihle Ndlovu's arrival and rumours of a move for Lebogang Phiri will have Zwane sweating. 'Chiefs will still finish ninth with their new signings' Chiefs star swaps 95,000 fans for 7,500-seater stadium Kaizer Chiefs youngster Samkelo Zwane could be heading on loan. Image: Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs news: Mduduzi Shabalala and Kgaogelo Sekgota
Kaizer Chiefs supporters anticipate that the 21-year-old Mduduzi Shabalala will enjoy his best season when the Betway Premiership kicks off in August. The Soweto-born star will mark his third senior season since he debuted in May 2022 against Swallows FC. After 77 appearances for Kaizer Chiefs wearing the number 42 jersey, it seems Shabalala has taken a newly available iconic digit. 10 Kaizer Chiefs strikers in five years Kaizer Chiefs attacking midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala trains in the Netherlands. Image: kcofficial/Instagram Following the departure of Ranga Chivaviro with nine goals and one assists in 45 matches, the number seven jersey is up for takes… Full story here. Orlando Pirates saying goodbye to popular striker? Most Kaizer Chiefs fans still remember Kgaogelo Sekgota. It was only in 2023 when the 28-year-old winger left Amakhosi after two assists in 48 appearances. The Polokwane-born attacker followed that with short stints at Stellenbosch FC and Magesi FC in the Betway Premiership, before the move to Upington City in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. The Northern Cape-based club has confirmed that the former Kaizer Chiefs winger is struggling with drug addiction… Full story here. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Shabalala lauds ‘healthy competition' in Chiefs camp
'All players are fighting for a position in the first team. It's a fiery, but healthy competition,' said the Chiefs attacking midfielder. Mduduzi Shabalala wants Kaizer Chiefs to improve their finishing next season. Picture: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix Kaizer Chiefs attacking midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala says there is a spirited battle going on for first team places in Amakhosi's pre-season camp in the Netherlands. ALSO READ: Chiefs comfirm women's team partner Chiefs arrived in the Netherlands on Friday and will play their first training match against Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem on Tuesday at Sportpark Driel. Chiefs new signings on display? The game will be streamed live on Chiefs' YouTube channel. Kick off is 7pm SA time. Some of Chiefs' new signings could well be on display – Amakhosi have already signed defenders Paseka Mako, Thabiso Monyana and Nkanyiso Shinga, midfielders Ethan Chislett and Siphesihle Ndlovo, and striker Flavio Silva ahead of the new campaign. 'So far so good,' Shabalala told the Chiefs website. 'All players are fighting for a position in the first team. It's a fiery, but healthy competition. 'With regard to the training matches in the Netherlands – we are here to learn. It's not so much about the result. We want to take all these learning experiences with us back to South Africa. 'For sure, we will compete in our training matches, but more importantly, to get better as a team. That's our objective.' Shabalala had a mixed 2024/25 season with Chiefs. He had a fine start under Nasreddine Nabi but faded as the campaign wore on. Shabalala did, however, play a key role off the bench as Chiefs beat Pirates 2-1 to lift the Nedbank Cup on May 10. 'We need to concentrate more on our finishing' Chiefs ended up finishing in 10th place in the Betway Premiership, missing out for a second season in a row on a place in the MTN8. 'I started the season well,' added Shabalala. ALSO READ: SuperSport coach joins Orlando Pirates 'But I didn't finish on a high note. As a team, we learnt that we need to manage ourselves better and we need to concentrate more on our finishing. Doubtlessly, we definitely want to win more of our home games next season to be able to compete for top positions on the league table.'
The South African
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs star changes jersey number?
Kaizer Chiefs supporters anticipate that the 21-year-old Mduduzi Shabalala will enjoy his best season when the Betway Premiership kicks off in August. The Soweto-born star will mark his third senior season since he debuted in May 2022 against Swallows FC. After 77 appearances for Kaizer Chiefs wearing the number 42 jersey, it seems Shabalala has taken a newly available iconic digit. Kaizer Chiefs news: Live match and 8 midfielders Mduduzi Shabalala celebrates Kaizer Chiefs' first trophy in a decade after a 2-1 win over Orlando Pirates in the 2025 Nedbank Cup final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Image: Nedbank Sport/Facebook Following the departure of Ranga Chivaviro with nine goals and one assists in 45 matches, the number seven jersey is up for takes. Orlando Pirates news: Mali star and new expert In images from the club's preseason training camp, Shabalala was seen wearing the number seven on his gear. Marks Maponyane Kaizer Motaung Jr Katlego Mphela. 2021/22 season: One appearance, zero goals and zero assists 2022/23 season: 22 appearances with two goals and two assists 2023/24 season: 21 appearances with two goals and one assist 2024/25 season: 33 appearances with four goals and two assists. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Picture: Kaizer Chiefs youngster given famous jersey number?
Kaizer Chiefs are hard at work in the Netherlands having recently touched down in the European country. Chiefs are expected to spend close to three weeks in the country, as they step up their 2025/26 season preparations. While in the Netherlands, Chiefs will be testing themselves against Dutch opposition in some friendly matches. Furthermore, their jam-packed schedule will see them play against some high profile top flight clubs as they sharpen up for the new campaign. In a schedule released by the club, they confirmed overall fixtures against the likes of Vitesse, FC Utrecht, NEC Nijmegen, PEC Zwolle and FC Twente. The first of those games will be against Vitesse. On Monday, Chiefs announced full details of their game against Vitesse, informing fans on a time and where to watch. 'Kaizer Chiefs will play their first pre-season training match against Dutch first division side Vitesse on Tuesday, 8 July. Kick-off will be at 19:00. The match will take place at Sportpark Driel in Driel. For soccer fans, including South Africans living in Holland or elsewhere in Europe, who would like to attend Kaizer Chiefs' training game, tickets can be bought online: When tickets are still available, they will be sold as well at Sportpark Driel. The entrance fee will cost 10 Euro per person, while kids until the age of 16 will pay only 5 Euro. Sportpark Driel will be open from 18:00. The match will be streamed live on the Kaizer Chiefs YouTube Channel.' Wrote the club website . The game could also see one Chiefs youngster debuting a new jersey number. Mduduzi Shabalala has recently been spotted wearing the famous jersey number seven. This after it was vacated by the released Ranga Chivaviro. It's a jersey that was made famous by the club owner Kaizer Motaung Snr during his playing days. It looks as if Shabalala will be the next one to try build a legacy with the jersey number seven. Has he officially moved away from his pervious number 42? Chiefs fans do you think he has done enough and deserves the famous jersey? Let us know by clicking on the comment tab. Or by emailing info@ or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
