Arthur Zwane outlines challenges faced by ‘talented players’ like Mdu Shabalala
“It is unfortunate as I only spend maybe two to four hours every day with Mdu."
Arthur Zwane has outlined the challenges youngsters face in SA football as the Kaizer Chiefs coach continues to deploy players emerging from the club’s youth structures.
The Amakhosi tactician, Arthur Zwane, has shown plenty of faith in junior graduates such as Mduduzi Shabalala, Samkelo Zwane and Wandile Duba, sticking to his word of playing young players.
Since the start of the 2022/23 season, Arthur Zwane has reiterated his mission to rebuild Chiefs into a formidable force in Mzansi once again, and he intends to do so with youngsters.
And, having worked in the Chiefs youth development set-up for years, it is fair to say that Zwane is well-equipped to help juniors reach their full potential and remain level-headed.
Shabalala has been sensational in Chiefs colours this season and has handled the pressure of playing in SA’s topflight including big games such as the Soweto Derby like a seasoned professional.
MDU SHABALALA CONTINUES TO SHINE
In Chiefs’ away league game against Richards Bay FC on Saturday afternoon at the King Zwelithini Stadium, Shababala showed his class.
The 19-year-old skillful attacker took a brilliant free-kick into the box, which Siyabonga Ngezana converted via a header to hand Chiefs a 1-0 victory over 10-man Richards Bay.
With the Soweto-born Shabalala in the spotlight of late, Zwane has said he is doing his best to ensure that the player does not allow the hype to get the better of him.
“It is unfortunate as I only spend maybe two to four hours every day with Mdu, and it depends who are the people that he is spending most of the time with,” said Zwane.
“At home, yes, we share ideas with the father, he [Shabalala] comes from a very good background, so they’re helping us [family], but the challenge is not only Mdu.
THE CHALLENGES FACED BY YOUNGTERS
“These are the challenges that most of our talented players are facing out there, the way we hype them up, and we end up saying things that we shouldn’t be saying, and as soon as they hear those things in their ears, sometimes they end up thinking they have arrived.
“So luckily, with us, we’ve got a system that is there to help these players, and it’s a matter of a player now having to make a choice because with the system that the team has with psychologists.
“We sometimes go for diversity sessions where they discuss their individual problems like any other person.
“It doesn’t mean that if you are a soccer player or you’re a coach, you don’t have your own personal problems. So the team has played a huge role in making sure that when you come to work, you are in the right frame of mind and be positive and always willing and eager to perform.
“Everything boils down to one thing, you as a player, do you want it? if you want it, you’ll go for it,” concluded Zwane.
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