Kaizer Chiefs‘ promising young midfielder, Mduduzi Shabalala, has revealed that his recent participation with the Bafana Bafana COSAFA Cup squad has provided a significant surge in his confidence.
The 21-year-old was an integral part of Vela Khumalo’s youthful South African national side that impressively secured a runner-up finish in the 2025 COSAFA Cup, which was hosted in Bloemfontein.
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While Shabalala has long been a standout performer at the youth level, consistently earning call-ups for national junior teams, a breakthrough into the senior national setup has proven more challenging until now.
Despite this, the COSAFA Cup presented a timely and meaningful opportunity for the talented playmaker. He’s now eager to channel that momentum directly into Kaizer Chiefs’ upcoming CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
“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,” the Amakhosi player shared with Idiski Times, highlighting the personal and professional growth he experienced.
With Chiefs having secured the Nedbank Cup title last season, they’ve booked their ticket to continental competition. Shabalala firmly believes that the lessons gleaned from his international stint will be crucial when facing Africa’s top clubs.
“I have no doubt I’ll be able to take all these lessons into the CAF Confederation Cup,” he added. “A lot of other African countries play a more physical game than we’re used to here. I also learnt a lot about the mental side of football.”
This exposure to different styles of play and the demands of international competition has clearly left a profound impact on Shabalala. “I gained valuable insights – technically, mentally, and physically – and I believe it’s going to make me a better player going forward.”
Shabalala is currently with Amakhosi as they continue their pre-season tour in the Netherlands. The club has already engaged in three friendly matches against Vitesse Arnhem, FC Utrecht, and NEC Nijmegen, unfortunately losing all three encounters.
Despite the results, the pre-season tour serves as a vital preparation phase, and Shabalala’s newfound confidence could be a key asset for the Chiefs as they gear up for a challenging season ahead.