Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Tefu Mashamaite believes there’s nothing stopping midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala from emulating fellow youngsters at Orlando Pirates and carry Chiefs in attack.
Despite Chiefs inconsistent results, Mashamaite has been impressed with the 21-year-old’s display on the field.
Shabalala has netted four league goals in 15 matches in all competitions and speaking to iDiski Times writer Lethabo Kganyago in edition 188 of the newspaper, the former Amakhosi captain says the speedster has the hunger to help the team, therefore should be brave and step up like Pirates’ Relebohile Mofokeng and create his own legacy in the process.
“I mean, like you see it at Pirates, you see it at Sundowns. So why not at Chiefs, why can’t a youngster like Mduduzi carry the team?” Mashamaite told iDiski Times.
“[Relebohile] Mofokeng is carrying Pirates – we can argue for that. So, it’s just down to also the youngsters at Chiefs to also say, you know what if Pirates is doing it, if Sundowns is doing it, then why not us? You are no longer young enough to say, ‘No, I can’t carry that burden’. If things are not going well for the team, you raise your hand and you just stake a claim and you create a legacy for yourself.
“You might be remembered for being that youngster who carried the team when things were not going well. So just like throw your name in there. So, I feel like he’s got the potential, he’s shown that, like, I can turn this team, and you just see hunger in his eyes.
“I encourage those around him just to support him and to give him enough support to make sure that he rises to the level where he really can perform at his best.”