Shabalala in big aim at Chiefs!
Kaizer Chiefs’ livewire midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala is lining up a milestone-filled return as domestic football kicks back into gear after the Africa Cup of Nations pause. The No. 7 turns 22 on the very night Amakhosi welcome Golden Arrows to FNB Stadium on Tuesday, and he’s eyeing more than birthday wishes — he’s chasing a statement run that cements his influence in gold and black.
Ever-present and edging toward triple digits
Few have been as consistent for Chiefs this season as Shabalala. He has featured in every single match across competitions, including the CAF Confederation Cup first leg away to AS Simba in Lubumbashi, where he entered after halftime to inject energy between the lines. That durability has him on the brink of a personal landmark: 97 senior appearances for the Soweto giants and counting.
If he keeps his ironman streak intact, Shabalala could hit the coveted 100-game mark before January is out. The calendar lays it out clearly: Golden Arrows at home on Tuesday, a trip to ZESCO United on January 25, and a quick turnaround against Marumo Gallants three days later. February then opens with the home leg against the Zambian side, adding another platform for him to influence the continental campaign.
Output that keeps ticking upward
Deployed primarily as an attacking midfielder, Shabalala’s numbers reflect steady growth. Across his 97 Chiefs appearances, he has tallied 11 goals and six assists — contributions that have increasingly arrived in pressure moments. He’s become the connector between midfield and attack, just as comfortable sliding into pockets to receive as he is carrying the ball at defenders.
On the national radar
Being the only Chiefs player to log minutes in every match this season hasn’t gone unnoticed at international level. The national setup has already taken a closer look, with Shabalala named among the standby options when the latest AFCON squad was finalized. That call-up buzz underscores his momentum — and hints at what could be next if he maintains this trajectory.
The peer comparison that fuels the chase
Shabalala’s path is often measured against that of a familiar foe-turned-benchmark: Relebohile Mofokeng of Orlando Pirates. Mofokeng, a contemporary in age, crossed the 100-appearance threshold for the Buccaneers by the end of September 2025 — roughly 28 months after his first-team bow late in the 2022/23 season. Shabalala actually debuted a year earlier, yet his road to a century is set to take slightly longer. Different team contexts, roles, and rotations tell part of that story — and add extra motivation as he bears down on his own triple-digit moment.
Eyes on a bigger prize
Beyond the milestone, there’s a larger target looming: contention for the World Cup squad. That ambition sharpens the stakes over the coming weeks. To break into that conversation, Shabalala will need to turn consistency into match-winning authority — the kind that swings tight league fixtures and tips continental ties. With the schedule tightening and margins shrinking, his blend of craft, pressing intent, and composure in the final third could be decisive.
Tuesday’s birthday clash with Golden Arrows offers the perfect stage-setter. Hit 98. Then 99. Then 100. And if the performances match the moment, the next chapter might stretch far beyond FNB Stadium — toward a seat on the biggest stage of all.
