Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has shed light on how Lebohang Maboe and Siphesihle Ndlovu partnership is benefiting Amakhosi.
The duo has been phenomenal for the Glamour Boys in the middle of the park, emerging as the preferred pairing in the heart of midfield. Their arrival ahead of the 2025/26 PSL season signaled a shift in recruitment strategy.
Maboe joined the Soweto giants on a free transfer after cutting ties with Mamelodi Sundowns, while Ndlovu signed for Chiefs from the now-defunct SuperSport United.
Statistically, the impact is becoming clear. Maboe has already featured in 11 games across all competitions, acting as the primary playmaker, while Ndlovu has been the engine of the midfield with 17 appearances, chipping in with a goal and an assist.
‘THEY BRING A LOT OF STABILITY’: BEN YOUSSEF ON MABOE AND NDLOVU PARTNERSHIP
Ben Youssef emphasised that while the squad possesses depth, the Maboe-Ndlovu combination offers a unique blend of intelligence.
Maboe brings a cooling effect to the ball, often finding pockets of space to dictate the tempo, while Ndlovu provides the defensive coverage and high-intensity pressing that allows Maboe the freedom to create.
“It’s a little funny when you make rotations because a lot of people get angry about the lack of stability. When you keep the same squad, they also get angry about why you don’t change it. Coming off a long break, like a month and a half without playing games, and then have to deal with fixtures every three days, all of which were away games, we had to travel and manage the load,” said Ben Youssef.
“I think with Maboe and Ndlovu, they provide us with a lot of stability in the middle of the park. In the last few games, we changed Maboe and Ndlovu just to manage their workload because it was a big risk for them to get injured. You know, in midfield, there’s a lot of sprinting and covering a lot of distance, so I had to manage them.
“When we finished before the break, we had George Matlou and Maboe, who also provided us with a lot of stability. To be honest, we have a great squad with different quality midfielders. However, Maboe and Ndlovu offer us a lot of tactical quality and stability.
“Other players provide us with more physical quality, and we manage each game depending on the load and physical condition of the players, as well as the opponent we are playing against.”
If Maboe and Ndlovu can continue to maintain their relentless energy, Amakhosi might finally have the engine room required to restore the club to its former glory days.
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