Nabi reveals factors preventing Mfundo Vilakazi from starting at Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has shed light on the factors preventing midfield sensation Mfundo Vilakazi from securing a starting spot in the Amakhosi line-up.

Vilakazi played a crucial role coming off the bench to help Chiefs collect maximum points against Stellenbosch FC in the Betway Premiership, a day after the club celebrated its 55th birthday.

The Soweto-born attacker provided the assist to Wandile Duba for his second goal as Chiefs came from a goal down to clinch a 2-1 win over Stellies at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.

Stellenbosch opened the scoring through Khomotjo Lekoloane in the first half before Man of the Match Duba scored a brace to overturn the scoreline.

The three points against Stellenbosch moved The Glamour Boys to fifth position on the league table with 18 points after 12 matches. As it stands, Chiefs have five league wins under their belt, three draws, and suffered defeat on five occasions as they’re building on returning to glory days under the guidance of Nabi.

Since the arrival of the Tunisian tactician, Amakhosi have used a handful of the club’s youth products, such as Mduduzi Shabalala, Samkelo Zwane, Wandile Duba and Vilakazi. The youngsters have turned into key players at the Soweto giants.

PHYSICAL READINESS AND FITNESS HOLDING MFUNDO VILAKAZI BACK, SAYS NASREDDINE NABI

While Nabi has shown confidence in the youngsters, he has explained that ‘Obrigado’ is not a regular starter at Kaizer Chiefs because he’s not physically ready yet.

Nabi further emphasised that Vilakazi lacks the fitness required to consistently play the full 90 minutes in consecutive matches.

In 11 matches that Vilakazi played for the Soweto giants this season in the league, he has started only once and came on from the bench 10 times. The highly-rated youngster has scored one goal and provided one assist in the current campaign.

“Mfundo Vilakazi is a talent from the academy of the club. He’s only 19 years old, so I would say his physical development is not yet 100%, which means that we need to protect him,” Nabi said.

“We need to give him time that will allow him to showcase himself, and we believe that he doesn’t yet have the consistency of playing 90 minutes in successive games without time to recover. We feel that these minutes he’s getting are going to build his confidence, momentum and his physical structure.”

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