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Kaizer Chiefs attacker Mduduzi Shabalala has been selected for the Bafana Bafana senior national team A squad for the first time since turning professional three years ago and now his focus is on improving his numbers.
Shabalala, who was part of the Bafana Bafana team that finished second in this year’s COSAFA Cup, losing to Angola in the final, counts just eight goals and five assists from the 81 matches he’s played at the top-flight level since 2022.
To be a regular feature in Hugo Broos’ squad selection, Shabalala knows that the number must improve.
"I think as an attacking midfielder, as a striker, you're only going to score, you're only going to create chances and have assists. So, numbers are very important in the game for any player. So, for me I'm working on that and I'm also working on getting more goals and more assists," Shabalala said.
Shabalala has been one of the players who have been carrying the Chiefs’ attack in recent seasons, and looking at how the team has started the 2025/2026 season, there’s a lot of hope that they can turn things around at Naturena Village. He shares the team’s goals for this season.
"What I can say is we have to be better than last season in every aspect and we have goals inside the team and even the way we started, was one of our goals for us to accomplish and we are happy we managed to get nine points out of this and we are looking forward to the upcoming games," he added.
The arrival of players like Luke Baartman and youth talent from Cape Town Spurs Asanele Velebhayi, provides the likes of Shabalala with the strong and healthy competition that they need.
The 21-year-old has got a positive message for Baartman and company.
"I think Luke also is a good player, he's a good signing for us and he's gonna help us a lot. What he needs to do is to focus on himself, he must always be himself at training, also in the field.
“He must play with his heart so that people can see that and another thing, he mustn't listen to everyone. He must do his thing and close the noise outside."
