Kaizer Chiefs forward Mududuzi Shabalala has pointed out a key area that they must fine tune next season if they want to have a better season.
Chiefs had a poor campaign in 2024-25, when they finished ninth, with a lack of consistency slowing them down throughout the campaign.
The Glamour Boys were unable to win three matches in a row and paid the price with the poor league placing although winning the Nedbank Cup provided a silver lining as it guarantees them CAF Confederation Cup participation next season.
What areas of improvement is Shabalala looking at?
Shabalala, who was among the few players who impressed last season, feels making the FNB Stadium a fortress is what they must do next season if they want a change in fortunes.
“As a team, we learnt that we need to manage ourselves better and we need to concentrate more on our finishing,” Shabalala told the club’s website.
“Doubtlessly, we definitely want to win more of our home games next season to be able to compete for top positions on the league table.”
With the Confederation Cup set to provide a different challenge, the 21-year-old is counting on the experience he gathered during the COSAFA Cup to help him navigate the tricky test his team will face in continental football.
Chiefs ace counting on COSAFA experience for CAF
“Being selected for the national team was a huge honour. It was also good for my self-confidence, and the games taught me a lot. I have no doubt I will be able to take all these lessons to the CAF Confederations Cup, for which we, as Kaizer Chiefs, qualified,” he added.
“A lot of other African countries play football differently than us, being very physical. I also learnt a lot about the mental aspect of the game of football during my stint with Bafana. So, I gained really valuable insights and experiences that will improve my game in the future.”
Shabalala, who scored four goals and provided two assists in 33 games last season, is part of the Chiefs squad currently in pre-season camp in the Netherlands.
