Kaizer Chiefs star Mduduzi Shabalala used to support Orlando Pirates but now he says he’ll die an Amakhosi fan.
Mdu Shabalala was an Orlando Pirates fan
Kaizer Chiefs star Mduduzi Shabalala revealed he grew up supporting Orlando Pirates but says now he will “die a Chiefs fan”.
‘Mdu’ worshipped Bucs forward Thembinkosi Lorch growing up in an all-Pirates household.
Shabalala recalls the first Soweto Derby he attended in “about 2019 or 2020 where Chiefs were leading 1-0 and Lorch equalised after a pass from Ben Motshwari”.
“I did support Orlando Pirates — everyone at home supported Pirates.
“But now, since I’ve joined Kaizer Chiefs I had to change and support Chiefs, and I will die as a Kaizer Chiefs fan.
“At home, I have influenced my mother and siblings to switch to Chiefs but my father has refused to change.”
He added, jokingly: “Even now he threatens to beat us, he loves Pirates very much.”
Will Pirates bottle the league?
After failing to beat Durban City at Orlando Stadium, Pirates have to win at Orbit College on the final day to win this season’s Betway Premiership title. Orbit have their own incentive to get a positive result. A win for the hosts would potentially see them climb out of the relegation playoff slot, depending on how Marumo Gallants go against Stellenbosch. Gallants and Orbit are level on 24 points, but Gallants sit above College by virtue of a superior goal difference. Stellies have nothing to play for, so on paper, Gallants have an easier assignment. Pirates should expect Orbit to be scrapping for their lives, so nothing should be taken for granted.
Gunners show their bottle
Without kicking a ball midweek, Arsenal became Premier League champions to end a painful 22-year wait. They’ve also shed a rather lazy and tiresome ‘bottlers’ tag in the process. Man City had to beat Bournemouth to take the title race to the final day, but they only managed a 1-1 draw against the Cherries. The pressure is off the Gunners on the final day when they visit Crystal Palace, so manager Mikel Arteta will likely shuffle his pack to rest some legs before their Champions League final date with PSG on May 30th. First, they’ll be relishing the moment when they lift that trophy in the London sunshine.
