Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has challenged midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala to maintain form after he scored a brace in the dominant 4-1 Betway Premiership win over rookies Orbit College at FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old Shabalala scored two goals, which were followed by a strike each from Mfundo Vilakazi and super-sub Flavio Silva, as Amakhosi moved to 22 points from 11 matches. Shabalala, who is part of the current Bafana Bafana set-up and is in the running for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), was impressive in the creative number ten role behind lone striker Etiosa Ighodaro.
With Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Thabo Cele behind him, Shabalala had the freedom to surge forward with the support of Asanele Velebayi and Vilakazi on the wings. After they registered their second Betway Premiership in succession, Kaze, who is in a co-coaching capacity with Khalil Ben Youssef, was full of praise for Shabalala.
“Shabalala is a player that has progressed very well and he is still 21 years old,” said Kaze adding that the creative midfielder needs to fix a few things in his game and fond consistency.“He can still improve in many areas of his game and one of those areas is that as a number 10, he needs to contribute more when it comes to goals and assists.”
Kaze added that Shabalala, who has featured in all their eleven league matches, must work decision making which sometimes lets him down at crucial stages. “It is about making the right decision, making the right pass, there were moments in the past where he used to take more touches in the box than needed but it is something that we correcting everyday.
“The good thing with him is that he is an unbelievable player and he is willing to learn every day.” With the Carling Knockout and FIFA international window, Amakhosi will only return to official action against Magesi FC in a fortnight at Seshego Stadium in Polokwane.
On that trip, Kaze and Ben Youssef will once again look in the direction of Shabalala for some inspiration as they will be looking to make it three wins in succession. Other players that are going to be key for Chiefs when normal service resumes are the likes of Brandon Petersen, Zitha Kwinika, Aden McCarthy, Mthethwa, Cele, Velebayi and Vilakazi.
If the original plan doesn’t work, the two coaches still have key players like Reeve Frosler, Dillan Solomons, Lebohang Maboe, Gaston Sirino, Pule Mmodi, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Siphesihle Ndlovu.