Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala has broken his silence about the injury he sustained just before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Shabalala, 22, sustained an arm injury in the Betway Premiership match against Mamelodi Sundowns in May and eventually needed surgery.
The youngster was one of the regular faces from his club that had appeared in Bafana Bafana sides in camps leading to the final one to the World Cup. However, he had his dreams dashed when he got injured weeks leading to the event and eventually missed out on what became a historic outing for the team as they reached the second round in tournament for the very first time.
In a Q&A with PUMA after being named the face of their South African campaign for the new PUMA ULTRA 7 football boot, Shabalala revealed he was disappointed but had to focus on recovery.
“It was a very difficult moment for me,” said Shabalala.
“I was disappointed because I had worked hard and had big goals for both my club and the national team.
“But I also knew that setbacks are part of football, so I focused on my recovery and stayed motivated, knowing my time will come again.”
Shabalala also shared that he is doing well in recovery and that he’s learning a lot about mental resilience and patience.
“It is going well and I’m getting stronger every day,” he added.
“Mentally, this period has taught me patience, resilience, and the importance of staying positive during difficult times.
“It’s helped me grow not only as a player but also as a person, and I believe I’ll come back even stronger.”
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