At only 19 years old, Mduduzi Shabalala is already making a name for himself in the world of South African football, the young midfielder, who hails from the development structures of Kaizer Chiefs has been turning heads with his impressive performances on the pitch.

Since being promoted to the senior team, Shabalala has quickly become a fan favourite due to the talent that he keeps on showcasing in the gold and black colours of Kaizer Chiefs. 

His natural talent and hard work have earned him a place in the starting line-up, and he has consistently delivered strong performances in every match.

That is why I certainly believe that the recent brilliant performance he gave in his Soweto Derby debut against Orlando Pirates has propelled his confidence to another level that will elevate his game and become one of the best players in the future for Amakhosi.

One of Shabalala's greatest and exciting strengths is certainly his versatility on the pitch, he can play as an attacking midfielder and also as a good holder of the ball with a very sharp and keen eye for goal his ability to read the game and make quick decisions has also been impressive, especially for a player of his age.

If there’s one thing the football loving fans of Amakhosi can be sure of is that, Shabalala’s growth is imminent and with the right influence around him, he will certainly be a force to be reckoned with in the DSTV Premiership in the near future.

But it's not just his skills on the pitch that have won over fans, Shabalala is known for his humility and his dedication to the team as he has a great work ethic and is always willing to put in the extra effort to improve his game.

His positive attitude and team spirit have also been praised by his coaches and teammates that is why his head coach Arthur Zwane echoes words like “Mdu is a special talent, more like Nkosingiphile Ngcobo but he is a bit more explosive”

Shabalala's journey to the senior team is an inspiring one as he started playing football at a young age and was quickly recognized for his talent, he joined the development structures of Kaizer Chiefs and worked hard to hone his skill after finally impressing the coaches with his performances and was eventually promoted to the senior team of the Glamour Boys.

A senior team debut that will forever live in his heart as he also scored his maiden senior goal for Amakhosi against Maritzburg United at the FNB Stadium last year August.

Now, as a key player for Kaizer Chiefs, Shabalala is focused on helping the team achieve successful results as Amakhosi are currently left with only the Nedbank Cup if anything is to go by for them winning a trophy.

His willingness to learn and improve his game has been a key factor in his success so far and I believe as a free-spirited player who takes criticism whether positive or negative from coach Arthur Zwane and the senior players, Shabalala will go far in his football journey.

One of the most notable things about the 19 year old is his ability to influence the style of play when Chiefs is attacking the opposition team, he has a knack for creating space and opportunities for his teammates and is always looking to get forward and create goal scoring chances for the team.

With the likes of Keegan Dolly, Siyethemba Sithebe, Ashley Du Preez and Kgaogelo Sekgota just to name a few, Shabalala has enough support structures at Chiefs that will help guide him in the right path for when he gets a Bafana Bafana call-up.

In conclusion Shabalala's performance on the pitch has been nothing short of impressive and as he continues to develop his skills and gain more experience, there is no doubt that Shabalala will be in the history books of Kaizer Chiefs as one who has become of the greats of the club and the South African football fraternity at large.