Kaizer Chiefs’ midfield has finally started to settle, and according to former Amakhosi superstar Jabu Mahlangu, the difference comes down to one partnership that has brought balance at just the right time of the season.
The duo of Lebohang Maboe and Siphesihle Ndlovu had only featured together in 11 matches before March, with both players spending large parts of the campaign on the sidelines due to injury setbacks and fitness concerns.
Maboe’s debut season at Naturena was heavily disrupted; he was restricted to just 12 appearances before March following a long rehabilitation spell that kept him out until November. Ndlovu, meanwhile, has managed 20 appearances as he battled through minor injuries and rotation changes within the squad.
Now that both are fully fit, their return has transformed the look and feel of the Chiefs midfield. The team’s recent run of five straight wins has come with the pair at the heart of it, offering stability, control, and much-needed technical quality in the centre of the pitch.
According to Mahlangu, the presence of these experienced heads has allowed the club’s younger talents to flourish, with Mduduzi Shabalala emerging as a notable beneficiary of the newfound balance.
KAIZER CHIEFS MIDFIELD FINALLY FIND BALANCE
“Maboe and Ndlovu have stabilised Kaizer Chiefs’ midfield,” former Amakhosi superstar Jabu Mahlangu said on the Diski Shandis podcast. “This has allowed Mduduzi Shabalala to be free in that number 10 role, uvukile [he has started to shine] because of that stability in the centre.”
Mahlangu explained that Chiefs had spent much of the season searching for the right balance in midfield, but nothing quite clicked. “Both Maboe and Ndlovu have quality on the ball, and they combine well. They complement each other. When Maboe goes forward, Ndlovu drops. They are both box-to-box players. When Ndlovu pushes up, Maboe covers as the sweeper,” he said.
WHY PREVIOUS COMBINATIONS FAILED FOR AMAKHOSI
“I believe Kaizer Chiefs have finally found that combination. The team was struggling so much in the middle. They tried Thabo Cele and Sibongiseni Mthethwa, but it didn’t work. They also tried Mthethwa and Mshini [Nkosingiphile Ngcobo], as well as Maboe and Ngcobo; none of those combinations worked. They experimented with a lot of different personnel in central midfield.”
Now, Mahlangu believes the solution has finally arrived at the right moment. “I feel that now, with Maboe and Ndlovu, the team has become stronger in the last few games. They have really stabilised that midfield. Both players bring experience as well,” he added.
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