Kaizer Chiefs boss Arthur Zwane looking cool in the heat. Image: @kaizerchiefs / Twitter

Zwane to Kaizer Chiefs fans: Calm down over Mdu Shabalala

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane has warned against overhyping young stars like Mdu Shabalala, although he’s excited about his talents.

by James Freemantle

05-03-2023 10:52

in Premier Soccer League

Kaizer Chiefs boss Arthur Zwane looking cool in the heat. Image: @kaizerchiefs / Twitter

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane has called for calm after excessive hype in South African that has seen Mduduzi Shabalala compared to club legend Thabo Mooki.

19-year-old Shabalala bagged an assist for the only goal of the game in Chiefs’ win over Richards Bay. Siyabonga Ngezana was the scorer. Chiefs have done the league double over the Natal Rich Boyz.

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Mdu has two goals and an assist in 10 DStv Premiership appearances this term. One of those goals came on second day of the season, against Maritzburg United.

Zwane is understandably excited by Shabalala’s potential, but comparisons with ‘Tsiki-Tsiki’ are premature and not helpful. The boss admits that the hype needs to be tempered somewhat going forward.

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kaizer chiefs Orlando Pirates soweto derby — Mduduzi Shabalala is one of the finest prospects to come out of Naturena in some time. Image: @kaizerchiefs / Twitter.

“When it comes to that one it’s unfortunate, I spend maybe two to four hours a day with Mdu, you know, it depends who are the people who spend the most time with him,” Zwane said.

“Yes we share ideas with his father, he comes from a very good background, so they’re helping us. But the challenge is, it’s not only Mdu, these are the challenges most of our talented players are facing out there.

“The way we hype them up and we end up saying things we shouldn’t be saying, and as soon as they hear those things, sometimes they start thinking they have arrived.”

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Zwane has mentioned the internal systems in place to alleviate off-field issues within the current playing squad. The focus is on the emerging talent and helping guard them against the pitfalls of the world outside of football and how it can effect their psyche. The youngsters are also reminded of what inexactly it means to be a Kaizer Chiefs first-team player.

“Luckily with us, we have a system that’s there to help these players,” he added.

“It’s a matter of a player now making a choice, with the system that team has we have psychologists, we sometimes go for diversity sessions where they discuss their individual problems, like any other person, doesn’t mean if you’re a coach or a soccer player you don’t have your own personal problems.

“So the team has played a huge role that when we come to work, we come to work in the right frame of mind, always positive and always willing and eager to perform, so everything boils down to one thing, you as a player – do you want it. If you want it you will go for it.”

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