Kaizer Chiefs coach reveals key trait that earned Thulani Mabaso senior team promotion

Kaizer Chiefs coach Cedric Kaze has expressed his admiration of youngster Thulani Mabaso who was given his senior team debut last month.

Mabaso, who was promoted from the Chiefs’ DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) team, which he had captained, was handed his debut against Golden Arrows before featuring in the win over Marumo Gallants and got his first taste of continental football in Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup victory against ZESCO United.

The 21-year-old midfielder has had to be patient to get his chance after being part of Chiefs’ pre-season tour of the Netherlands as he was taken back to the DDC team before being recalled.

Kaze says the decision to take Mabaso back to the reserve team was a calculated move meant to test his character and after his positive response, the technical team was satisfied that he has the temperament and right attitude to play in the senior side.

Mabaso lauded for showing great character

“Nothing comes without hard work and we as Kaizer Chiefs we are pulling ourselves in every positive situation to work for everything good that can happen, can happen to us,” Kaze said as quoted by SABC. “We’ll keep going until we see how far we can reach.”

“Which is why a player like Mabaso who was sent back to DDC after our pre-season to see the personality that he has,” the Chiefs coach added.

“You go back there to play with other young players. If the player gets distracted, think, wow I’ve been with the first team why am I coming back here then you see that the personality is not good but if the players does well, trains everyday, plays everyday.

What is Chiefs coach demanding from players?

“He performs everyday well, where you see a player with personality, a player with character, a player that you believe can go very far. We wanted first to test his personality because to be a good footballer, football is not enough.

“You have to have a good personality, you have to have the mental strength to cope with all the situations especially in teams like Kaizer Chiefs and all the big teams where the pressure comes with the badge.”

Mabaso will be looking to play his first Nedbank Cup game as Chiefs face a tricky test against Stellenbosch FC on Wednesday.