Renowned agent Mike Makaab has voiced serious concern over the psychological damage inflicted on Kaizer Chiefs starlets Mduduzi Shabalala and Mfundo Vilakazi following reports that disciplinary issues led to their omission from the Soweto Derby squad.
The duo was absent as the Buccaneers beat Amakhosi 3-0 at the FNB Stadium this past Saturday. That drew questions about why they were missing from the big game.
Earlier reports indicated that the two midfielders were being punished for misbehaving in the run-up to the blockbuster fixture. After the game, Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze set the record straight, saying Vilakazi was injured while Shabalala was excluded for tactical reasons.
Makaab has also come in to dispel the reports of indiscipline further, explaining the toll such talk took on the two young players.
MAKAAB ASSERTS VILAKAZI AND SHABALALA’S COMMITMENT TO CHIEFS SHOULDN’T BE QUESTIONED
“Absolutely no truth at all. I can tell you that Mfundo Vilakazi picked up a knock, a small knock. I have personally seen the doctor’s report,” said Makaab on Gagasi FM.
“Mfundo called me just to tell me about the results. It’s not serious. In terms of Mduduzi Shabalala, you heard what coach Kaze said. He said it was a tactical decision. So, I can tell you that wherever that report is coming from, it’s totally unsubstantiated, and it saddens me because you have to be careful when you make statements like that.
“The minute you make statements like that, you start allowing the public to question the commitment of these youngsters. These young players are hurting as much as anybody is hurting in terms of the defeat over the weekend.”
While tactical reasons have been cited for the omission, the absence of Shabalala raises eyebrows; the 22-year-old is Chiefs’ second-highest scorer in the Betway Premiership this season with three goals and two assists, despite facing scrutiny for squandering recent clearcut chances.
In contrast, Vilakazi has found the net just once and provided a single assist in 16 appearances across all competitions, further fueling the debate around the duo’s exclusion from the Soweto Derby.
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