‘He’s One Of The Best’ – Chiefs Coach Backs Shabalala For Bafana |

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef says Mduduzi Shabalala. Photo: Gallo Images

Makabi Lilepo’s goal earned Kaizer Chiefs a 1-0 win over ZESCO United on Sunday, with Chiefs improving after Gaston Sirino and Mduduzi Shabalala came on.

Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef believes Mduduzi Shabalala could earn a place in Bafana Bafana’s World Cup squad later this year due to the qualities he brings.

“Shabalala is one of the best players. I think he’s performing very well. The best thing in Shabalala is that he’s very smart, he’s professional,” said Ben Youssef, about the midfielder who made his 100th appearance for Amakhosi over the weekend.

READ: What 100 Games Tell Us About Shabalala’s Growth At Chiefs

“Every advice you give to Shabalala, he is always ready. He’s a professional player and I hope that he will continue and he will be part of Bafana Bafana in the World Cup.” 

While speaking to the media, the Tunisian coach gave an update on the injuries in the team indicating that Bradley Cross and Sibongiseni Mthethwa have returned to training.

“First we don’t have big injury, we have only two injured players Bradley Cross and Ox Mthethwa are back with us. We don’t have injury,” shared Ben Youssef.

The coach expressed gratitude to the club’s medical team and the fitness coach.

“You know when you play every three days, you can manage but the problem is that we are traveling also. We are playing and we are traveling.So like I said it’s mentally tough more than physically tough but congratulation for our technical staff, especially our physical coach Majdi Safi and for our doctor Aadil Bodhania.”

Ben Youssef added that they medical team is dealing with a big squad.

“They are helping us a lot to prepare the player to be fit on match day. I think we speak a lot with the player, we meet a lot, we make a lot of specific work for them. Now recently we don’t have time to make a lot of work, you know. We are in situation to make only one training session before every game so we don’t have space or time to work. But we are using video with our analyst to advise them, to give them more solution. I know that we are in the good way and step by step they will be better,” Youssef concluded.

READ: ‘If You Don’t Score, Kaizer Chiefs Will Overrun You’

Amakhosi’s next game is the Nedbank Cup round of 32 encounter against Stellenbosch on Wednesday 4th February in Cape Town.

Chiefs are yet to lose a game in 2026, having won all the four games they have played in both the Betway Premiership League and in the CAF Confederation Cup with 1-0 margins. 

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