Mduduzi Shabalala squandered a golden opportunity as Kaizer Chiefs were held to a 0-0 draw by Cape Town City on Wednesday evening.
The Glamour Boys were hoping for a win to climb into sixth place in the Betway Premiership, but the match saw a rare start for Msimango in defense, filling in for the injured Rushwin Dortley. Edmilson Dove, recently recovered from a long-term injury, also kept his place at left-back.
Shabalala, a fan favorite, was included upfront alongside Gaston Sirino, Makabi Lilepo, and Ashley Du Preez. In the 42nd minute, he was presented with a golden chance to score after intercepting the ball from a City defender. One-on-one with goalkeeper Darren Keet, Shabalala fired wide, much to the disappointment of the crowd.
Confidence issues for Shabalala at Chiefs
Although Chiefs pressed hard in the second half, Cape Town City, led by coach Muhsin Ertugral, managed to hold on for the draw. Since taking over in January, Ertugral has secured four points against his former side.
The result keeps Kaizer Chiefs in eighth place on the league table after 21 matches. Despite a strong start to the season, Shabalala has found himself sidelined for many of Chiefs’ recent games. His confidence appears to be low, with several missed chances adding to his struggles. It remains to be seen if coach Nasreddine Nabi will give the young midfielder a starting spot in their next match.
