Football fans are quick to judge—but just as quick to forgive when a player shows heart. That’s exactly what happened with Kaizer Chiefs’ young attacker Mduduzi Shabalala, who has recently turned critics into supporters once again.
The 21-year-old came under fire for his underwhelming performance in the recent Soweto derby, but just a week later, he silenced the doubters by playing a pivotal role in Amakhosi’s 2-1 victory over Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final.
Shabalala’s turnaround didn’t happen in isolation. Former Orlando Pirates star Benedict “Tso” Vilakazi, who has been mentoring the youngster, shared the advice he gave him before the big match.
“I told him, ‘Just be yourself and do what you do best. I know it’s not easy out there,’” Vilakazi told iDiski Times. “He said to me, ‘Grootman, it’s hard because sometimes I need help and I don’t get it.’ And I told him, unfortunately in professional football, you need to push through and show your individual brilliance even when support is lacking.”
Vilakazi praised Shabalala’s courage to keep trying despite the odds. “We saw him take initiative, and that’s what we want—players who don’t give up when things aren’t going their way. His play may have looked like it was breaking down, but he kept the move alive, and it eventually led to the goal.”
From being written off to becoming a key figure in a high-stakes final, Shabalala has reminded fans—and perhaps himself—what he’s capable of when he plays with confidence and determination.
