Kaizer Chiefs’ Mduduzi Shabalala reveals injury that ended his World Cup hopes

Kaizer Chiefs attacker Mduduzi Shabalala says a freak broken-bicep injury at the end of last season effectively ended his hopes of being considered for the FIFA World Cup.

The 22-year-old had been enjoying a breakthrough period with Chiefs and was emerging as one of the club’s most promising young players. His performances were also beginning to generate talk of a possible national team call-up before the injury halted his progress.

Shabalala explained the incident in detail in an interview with Kaizer Chiefs’ official media team, describing how a decision over the way he landed turned an otherwise enjoyable match into a major setback.

“For me even now it’s difficult to talk about that because I was on the game and I was feeling the game, I was enjoying the moment because we were not playing with pressure, we were just expressing ourselves,” he said.”So I think me going into that incident, I think I received the ball from Pule [Mmodi] and after receiving the ball, I opened my body. I had something on my leg, so it took it on my right foot. Then I fell, I think also I didn’t want to fell straight because I didn’t want to land on my shoulder. So I wanted to land on my back. Kanti [But], that’s where the problem started. So for me, it was for me to land on my back like that. But, my hand was still behind, and my body. I didn’t turn my body quick. So the time I wanted to turn, however, my hand was already left here. So I bumped onto my elbow, and that’s when my bicep broke.”And to me it was to say, maybe it’s not my turn. I should wait for my turn, and maybe God does things in his own way, and he knows what he Why, is he putting me in this situation? And I believe that my turn will come again and I’ll come back soon and I’ll come back strong.”

The injury came at the worst possible moment for Shabalala, who had been building momentum during what was shaping up to be an important campaign. The attacker’s progress at club level had raised expectations that he could soon be involved in the national-team picture.

Instead, the broken bicep forced him to step away just as his profile was growing. Shabalala said he has tried to view the setback as a matter of timing, trusting that another opportunity will arrive.

He has now returned to action and has made two appearances for Chiefs in the current campaign. His comeback represents the first step in rebuilding the momentum he had established before the injury.

Shabalala’s account also highlights how a single moment in an unpressurised game changed the course of his season. He had been enjoying the freedom of the match when he received a pass from Pule Mmodi, opened his body and attempted to avoid landing on his shoulder. As he tried to turn, his arm remained behind him, causing him to strike his elbow and break his bicep.

The forward now believes his opportunity will come again and is focused on returning to his previous level, and then going beyond it.