In search of a regular goalscorer, Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi could have unearthed the potential of Mduduzi Shabalala, who has shot up in the Betway Premiership scoring charts.
It's been a while since Amakhosi had one of their forwards featuring among the top goalscorers in the league after Shabalala caught up with the likes of Tshegofatso Mabasa, Evidence Makgopa, both of Orlando Pirates all on four goals each, after the 20-year-old's solitary goal against Chippa United handed the Glamour Boys a much needed win.
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Even though it's not a big number, by the league's standards, the Amakhosi academy graduate is just two goals shy of leading goalscorer in the Premiership, Mamelodi Sundowns forward Iqraam Rayners, who has scored six goals and only one goal behind second leading goalscorer Lucas Ribeiro Costa of Masandawana.
Shabalala's counter-part and peer at Pirates, Relebohile Mofokeng has only scored two goals in the league so far, although he has an overall tally of five goals, including finding the back of the net in the MTN8 and CAF Champions League.
'Mdu or Die' emerging as the leading scorer for Chiefs could be exposing the shortcomings of the likes of Ashley Du Preez, Ranga Chivaviro and Christian Saile.
In fact, no Amakhosi forward scored more than four goals in the league for the club last season, with Du Preez, Chivaviro and Saile scoring four goals apiece the whole of the 2023/24 season.
The last time the Soweto giants had a forward that was among the top goalscorers in the league going into new year was in the 2019/20 campaign, where former striker Samir Nurkovic scored 13 goals in the league but did not win the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot award, after that honour went to Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile and Gabadinho Mhango (while at Pirates), after they both scored 16 goals apiece.
With Gaston Sirino seemingly not in the Chiefs squad, (after he missed games against TS Galaxy and Chippa United without explanation), the Glamour Boys will again look up to Shabalala for inspiration in front of goal as they visit Cape Town City on Sunday evening.
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Sundowns will not be in any league action until 22 January, which means the 20-year-old could top the scoring charts, before Masandawana return from CAF Champions League duties, if he keeps on scoring for Amakhosi.
The Buccaneers will also not be active in the Betway Premiership this weekend, with a clash against Cape Town City next Wednesday, their only league fixture before they come back again with one week left of January.
