Kaizer Chiefs star advised on how to match Orlando Pirates’ Mofokeng

Kaizer Chiefs attacking midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala has been told he can be on par with the Orlando Pirates star Relebohile Mofokeng, who has been enjoying his game in the Premier Soccer League.

Since making his debut for the Amakhosi senior team in June 2022, Shabalala has played 106 games across all competitions but has managed just 11 goals and six assists despite being played in an advanced role.

In the ongoing campaign, the 22-year-old has played 29 games already, but has just three goals and an assist. It explains the sharp criticism he received from the fans in the last couple of weeks.

Mofokeng’s graph has been rising steadily since his introduction to top-tier football by the then Bucs coach Jose Riveiro. The Bafana Bafana international has a total of 27 goals, and 26 assists in the 117 appearances for the Soweto giants. This season, he has played 28 games where he has hit the back of the net eight times and provided six assists in the process.

Where is Kaizer Chiefs’ Shabalala getting it wrong?

While Mofokeng has been included in the Bafana Bafana squad that will play Panama Panama in international friendlies, Shabalala will be at the Naturena Village training for club assignments. Ex-Chiefs defender Tefu Mashamaite has explained the attacker’s weakness.

“I know he is someone who has received a lot of criticism, especially for missing goal-scoring opportunities,” he said as quoted by FARPost.

However, as a coach, I am very happy with his progress because I look at Shabba individually and the kind of moments he creates, whether it is a movement to try to receive the ball or a movement to draw the opponent away so that those around him can receive the ball.

“He is very well equipped to get into the final third. The only thing I feel he needs to work on is his finishing. That is the only area he needs to improve. Otherwise, I believe he can reach the level of ‘Rele.’ He can easily reach that level if he focuses on his finishing right now,” Mashamaite concluded