Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi says they won’t only be looking to Mduduzi Shabalala and Wandile Duba but a host of young talent to make an impact this season.
Shabalala, 21, is entering his third full season with the club with 77 games under his belt, with eight goals and five assists, while the 21-year-old Duba who rose through the DStv Diski Challenge squad alongside ‘Shabba’ has also firmly been part of the senior set-up.
Duba made 25 appearances, with five goals and three assists and there’s been growing optimism that it could be the breakout seasons for them to star for Amakhosi.
However, Nabi has played down the expectations, saying all the young talent including Aden McCarthy, Thulani Mabaso, Kabelo ‘Matlaba’ Nkgwesa and Naledi Hlongwane has what it takes to make an impact.
“Aden [McCarthy] too… we believe that the competitions that this players are going to face will make them progress and improve – without competition, sometimes young players, when they feel they don’t have competition, they tend not to be on their toes,” Nabi said when asked by iDiski Times if he feels Shabalala and Duba are ready to take the next step.
“After [good] performances, they are not always as consistent you would like but we will need everyone, not only Duba or Shabalala, we will need even the youngsters pushing from the development teams, like Naledi, Matlaba, Thulani and everyone else this season.”
Chiefs are likely to play over 50 games this campaign due to their return to CAF inter-club competitions, having qualified for the Confederation Cup by winning the Nedbank Cup.
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