Shabalala of Chiefs training with Villarreal. image: Kaizer Chiefs
Picture | Kaizer Chiefs starlet arrives to train at La Liga giants!
Kaizer Chiefs starlet Mduduzi Shabalala has finally arrived in Spain, and has been pictured in Villarreal training gear.
Shabalala of Chiefs training with Villarreal. image: Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs starlet Mduduzi Shabalala has finally arrived in Spain, and has been pictured in Villarreal training gear.
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Shabalala, who has started for Chiefs in the DStv Diski Challenge has had a long overdue trip to Spain, with Villarreal his current destination.
How the opportunity came about
Shabalala had earned his opportunity to travel to Spain and train with La Liga clubs, due to his strong showings for the South African U17 national team at COSAFA Cup level. Those performances had earned the Player of the Tournament award at that particular tournament, which then resulted in the opportunity to train at the likes of Villarreal through the Technical Study Group for a La Liga development experience.
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Initially Shabalala was expected to leave for Spain in 2020, and it was expected that it would be the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid who would have the opportunity to assess the player. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its travel restrictions, however, the trip was postponed. After the forward started showing some blistering form for Chiefs’ DDC side, coach Vela Khumalo confirmed that the trip was still on.
Shabalala was recently in Belgium
But before then, he was confirmed to have been in Belgium for assessments at second tire side KVC Westerlo alongside Chiefs teammate and goalkeeper Bontle Molefe. Shabalala was said to have impressed in Belgium, but it was suggested that he would more likely be placed in the u21 side if he were to sign for the Division B.
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It now remains to be seen whether Shabalala will still be moving on to training with giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, or he will return to Chiefs after his assessment with Villarreal. Another scenario could see the player promoted to the Amakhosi first team next season, as he has already flirted with a professional debut several times by being named in a match day squad and training with the first team.
Here is the picture posted by his former youth coach on Twitter coach Sifiso:
