Could Chiefs’ overreliance on youngsters backfire? Khumalo weighs in
Kaizer Chiefs icon Doctor Khumalo has weighed in on whether the club’s heavy reliance on young talent could backfire. Chiefs’ new coach Nasreddine Nabi believes in youngsters and they have been key for the team in the current Betway Premiership season.
Rising stars in the current Amakhosi squad include Wandile Duba, Mduduzi Shabalala, Samkelo Zwane, and Mfundo Vilakazi. The four academy graduates have had the chance to showcase their talents and have each made a strong impression.
Duba has made 16 appearances in all competitions, scored four goals and grabbed two assists. On the other hand, Shabalala has netted four goals and grabbed two assists in 15 games.
Zwane has made 11 appearances, contributing an assist, while Vilakazi has played 15 games—primarily as a substitute—scoring two goals and adding another assist to his tally.
DOCTOR KHUMALO SAYS CHIEFS ARE NOT PUTTING YOUNGSTERS UNDER PRESSURE, BUT THEY’RE HELPING THEM GROW
Speaking at the Castle Lager x Kitchener’s media launch on Thursday at Braamfontein in Johannesburg, the former Bafana Bafana midfielder says Chiefs is not putting pressure on their young talent, but they’re helping them grow.
The 57-year-old gave an example of himself having to play a Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates in his first match as a young player.
“Kaizer Chiefs is not putting any player under pressure or do they intend to lose games or win games or find themselves in this situation? It’s a phase that they’re going through, it once happened,” said Khumalo.
“The youngsters because they are fielding them, they are playing so it looks like they are putting pressure. Why would you be thinking that they’re putting pressure on them? If that were the case then, would you say they put pressure on me on my first game against [Orlando] Pirates, no; it was growth.
“These boys will grow slowly but surely, but this cannot be achieved by people at the village; I’m talking about the coach, the players, the management and everyone working at the village. It’s collectively, even the supporters need to play their role.”
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