Kaizer Chiefs teenage starlet Mduduzi Shabalala has said that they are eager to prove that they’re still a force to be reckoned with in the new season.
Once dubbed the Cup Kings of South African football, Chiefs have endured a challenging period. In the 2023/24 season, they will continue their chase for their first trophy since 2015.
The Soweto giants will start their new campaign against Chippa United at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.
They will be eager to get off to a winning start in the DStv Premiership to ease off the pressure on new coach Molefi Ntseki. And according to Shabalala, there is a new winning mentality at Amakhosi, with the youngster looking to impress once again.
In the last campaign, the 19-year-old thrilled the club’s faithful, while also establishing himself in the PSL.
“So far so good. We’ve been doing very well in training, and we are looking forward to our first game. We are feeling positive,” said Shabalala.
“There’s a lot of improvement in the team, but, of course, what is important is getting results, which we haven’t done as well as we would have liked. We are looking forward to putting that right against Chippa and getting three points.
“We’ve got a new jersey, a new sponsor, Kappa, a new set-up, a new team, and we approach the season with a new mentality.
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Chippa have proved to be a bogey team for Chiefs in recent times, but Shabalala is not buying it. He prefers to focus on the upcoming match and not get caught up in the past.
Mduduzi Shabalala also outlined the importance of Kaizer Chiefs doing well on Sunday in Durban as they face Mamelodi Sundowns after the Chippa clash.
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“They have been saying a lot of things about us, but we just want to go out there and express ourselves with positive energy and willingness to fight for the team,” he added.
“Chippa are a good side, with some very good players, so we are expecting a tough contest.
“The first game is very important for us to boost confidence. We play Sundowns in our second game, and we want to go into that match with three points in the bag.”