Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo says he understands why coach Hugo Broos called Mduduzi Shabalala to the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria and didn’t play him.
Shabalala watched from the bench as Bafana beat Lesotho and drew with the Super Eagles in Bloemfontein earlier this month to edge closer to qualifying for the World Cup next year. Khumalo spoke to the media including iDiski Times journalist Lethabo Kganyago in the City of Roses, in an interview carried in edition 222 of the newspaper.
The Kaizer Chiefs legend said Broos wanted the Chiefs attacker to get a feel of the camp because the coach is already thinking about the future.
“[Mduduzi] Shabalala is in the team, but I don’t think he brought him to use him, but just for him to have a feel of what the national team is all about, and this is how you groom these youngsters,” said Khumalo.
“So, the succession plan doesn’t start when there’s a problem, but it starts when everything is still intact. So, Hugo is on the right track in terms of making sure that he’s gelling experience and younger players. And who has ever thought that [Relebohile] Mofokeng will be where he is today? I mean, he was given a chance in terms of being with the setup of the national team, but now he’s a regular.
The 58-year-old also admitted he is pleased for Shabalala especially because the latter had been knocking on the door. He went on to advise the 21-year-old to maximise the opportunity of being seen by the national team selectors.
“Yeah, I think, for Mduduzi Shabalala to be in the squad, I’m happy for the boy,” added Khumalo.
“He has tried so much. In some instances, I would feel bad in terms of, I mean, like, this boy is trying. But for Hugo to call Mdu I think it’s the same thing that he has done to Mofokeng, you know, to bring him in and for these two games he didn’t feature, but just for him to be part of the set-up.
“But then again, the question lies with Shabba, ‘they called you, what are you going to do about it’, because they can give you the platform, but you pave your own path.”
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