Arthur Zwane Reflects on Mduduzi Shabalala’s Rise, Draws Parallels With His Own Journey

AmaZulu FC mentor Arthur Zwane has shared a heartfelt reflection on the rise of his former student, Mduduzi Shabalala, who has recently earned his place in the Bafana Bafana setup after a string of impressive performances for Kaizer Chiefs.

Shabalala, who made his national team debut in October after replacing the injured Relebohile Mofokeng, played a role in South Africa’s 3-0 victory over Rwanda — a result that sealed qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Zwane, who promoted Shabalala to the Chiefs senior team in 2022 following his standout displays in the Diski Challenge, spoke candidly about the youngster’s development and how it reminded him of his own journey as a player. He admitted that, in his early playing days, he often misunderstood tough coaching as personal dislike, only to later realise that such criticism stemmed from a desire to help him grow.

Source: Briefly News