Broos explains absence of red-hot Chiefs star Shabalala from Bafana squad

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Broos explains absence of red-hot Chiefs star Shabalala from Bafana squad
Image - Kaizer Chiefs

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has given reasons why Kaizer Chiefs star Mduduzi Shabalala did not make his final squad for this month’s friendly with Zambia.

South Africa have lined up just one friendly match in the November international window and Broos unveiled his final squad on Thursday with a number of high-profile names not included among them Shabalala.

Shabalala’s omission was a surprise given he has been in great form at Chiefs with three goals and an assist in his last four games, two of those scored on Tuesday, when he guided the Glamour Boys to a 4-1 thrashing of Orbit College.

Why was Shabalala overlooked by Broos?

Broos was among those in the stands at FNB Stadium as the 21-year-old attacking midfielder led the demolition job but that was still not enough to convince him to include the player in his squad.

“It is a moment that you can try and pick some other players,” Broos said when asked about Shabalala, who was dropped in favour of Orlando Pirates’ Masindi Nemtajela.

“And Nemtajela has made very good performances in Pirates. So I think I have to call him and see how he is behaving and training with the group,” added the veteran coach, justifying the call-up of Nemtajela, who is yet to score or assist in 10 games for Pirates this season.

Mduduzi Shabalala against AmaZulu

“That’s why Shabalala is not there. It’s not a question of he’s not playing good or I don’t want him anymore – No!”

Pirates star given priority over Chiefs ace

While not closing the door on Shabalala, Broos said he wants to look at other players who have not had a crack at the national team and the Pirates star is one of those.

Mduduzi Shabalala and Mohau Nkota Bafana Bafana

“But again it’s the last game I do such things [give others a chance] and that’s the only reason that I just wanted to see Nemtajela in the team and how he is behaving, if he has already the level of Bafana Bafana,” he said.

Shabalala was part of the squad in last month’s World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda when he was a late inclusion owing to the injury of Relebohile Mofokeng and came on in the 89th minute of the 3-0 thrashing of Amavubi which sealed Bafana’s place at the 2026 tournament.

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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