Shabalala returns to Chiefs first-team plans after 75-minute reserve outing

Mduduzi Shabalala is set to return to the Kaizer Chiefs first-team set-up after making his comeback from injury in the club’s DStv Diski Challenge side.

The Chiefs crowd favourite was left out of the matchday squad for the Betway Premiership season opener against Kruger United at the weekend, prompting questions about his fitness and availability.

Reports subsequently emerged that Shabalala had travelled to Lesotho with Chiefs’ reserve team for a friendly against Lifofane FC. He featured for 75 minutes as the Soweto club recorded a 3-1 victory over the Lesotho Premier League side at Setsotso Stadium in Maseru.

Shabalala has been recovering from a broken arm sustained last season, and the match provided him with an opportunity to build up his fitness and regain match sharpness.

Vela Khumalo, who coaches Kaizer Chiefs’ DStv Diski Challenge team, was encouraged by the midfielder’s performance and attitude during the game.

“We played him for 75 minutes. Remember, when you train with the Reserve League team, the aim is to get minutes, and Mdu was too professional. He knows what it takes to be in the DDC team,” said Khumalo, speaking exclusively to KickOff.

Khumalo said Shabalala’s conduct and performance showed that his time away from competitive football had not changed his approach.

“He showed he is coming from the good background of the team, he is still the same Mduduzi he was many years ago when I found him.

“Now he is done with us in the DDC, so he is going back to the first team. He was only with us for this game, and I like the way he was humble.

“We were playing against a team that was in second spot in the Lesotho Premier League. It was more about assessing our team ahead of the new season.

“Shabalala was the only player [in the team] who is a regular in the Chiefs first team. Other than that, we had our normal DDC squad or players we’re looking to add,” added the tactician who doubles up as Amajimbos head coach.

The outing was therefore not intended to signal a permanent move to the reserve team, but instead formed part of Shabalala’s return-to-play process. Khumalo confirmed that the player had joined the DDC squad only for the Lesotho fixture before going back to the senior side.

Shabalala’s absence from the Chiefs squad against Kruger United had come after his recovery from the arm injury, but his appearance in Maseru offered a positive indication of his progress. The next stage will be his reintegration into the first-team plans as Kaizer Chiefs continue their Betway Premiership campaign.

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