Kaizer Chiefs are enjoying their most improved season in the post-COVID era, with their rebuilding efforts beginning to yield tangible results on the pitch.
After winning five games on the trot in the Betway Premiership, Amakhosi are in third place with 45 points, six points ahead of AmaZulu FC, who have played a game more.
Having finished ninth with 32 points last season, the current points tally is a huge improvement. The previous season, they amassed 36 points, finishing 10th. At the heart of their progress is a trio of academy graduates, quietly playing a pivotal role in the club’s resurgence.
While much of the spotlight often falls on senior signings, the numbers, obtained from Opta Jabu, tell an interesting story. Their three development players, Mduduzi Shabalala, Wandile Duba, and Mfundo Vilakazi, have yet to taste defeat in league matches they have started this season.
Spearheading that impact is Shabalala, whose consistency and attacking output have made him a regular. The 22-year-old midfielder has featured in 22 league matches, starting 17 and coming off the bench five times, missing only the Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates in February. In that stretch, he has contributed five goals and three assists, a direct involvement in eight goals, the joint-highest in the squad.
WHAT CEDRIC KAZE SAID ABOUT SHABALALA
Beyond output, his availability and the technical team’s trust stand out. Shabalala has played more league matches than any other Chiefs player this season and leads the club in total appearances across all competitions with 32. Last season, only former captain Yusuf Maart started the same number of matches as the 22-year-old, which was 33 across all competitions, underlining how heavily he is relied upon despite his age.
“Mduduzi Shabalala is a player with a very big potential,” co-coach Cedric Kaze told the media after the Glamour Boys’ 2-0 win over TS Galaxy on Sunday. “[But] it’s true that there were some times that he felt disappointed by his performance and by the harsh criticism that came to him.
“But I always tell him that that’s part of a football player, and the biggest thing is to have a very strong mentality.”
Additionally, the Burundian coach considers Shabalala to be progressing well, though maintaining steady performance is still essential. “He [must] keep working hard, keep improving every day, and I’m happy that he’s turning a corner. But now we look for more consistency in his game,” he added.
WANDILE DUBA GROWING INTO A MORE PROMINENT ROLE
His influence becomes even clearer when looking at the results. Chiefs have won 75% of matches when Shabalala starts alongside Duba, pointing to a developing on-field chemistry that is translating into points. In contrast, the six league matches Shabalala did not start resulted in two draws and four defeats, a drop-off that proves his importance.
Duba, meanwhile, has grown into a more prominent role as the season has progressed. The forward has made 14 league appearances, nine of them starts, and has begun to add product to his game with three goals and one assist. His increased involvement in the starting lineup has coincided with improved attacking fluidity, particularly when on the field with Shabalala.
Vilakazi’s contribution, though more understated, is equally significant. The young midfielder has started five matches and made 10 substitute appearances, with Chiefs remaining unbeaten in every league fixture he has started.
The stats show a clear pattern that Amakhosi academy players are not merely squad options but are influencing outcomes. For a club that has faced scrutiny in recent seasons over inconsistency and squad rebuilding, the influence of ‘Shaba’ and Duba offers a blueprint for sustainable progress.
With just seven games to go before the end of the season, it remains to be seen whether the co-coaches will continue to trust this youthful core. If current trends hold, the club’s future may well be shaped less by marquee signings and more by the steady rise of its own development pipeline.
RELATED STORY: What Mdu Shabalala must fix to reach Rele Mofokeng’s level