THE PRINCE OF NATURENA

MDU SHABALALA HAS BEEN A REVELATION AT KAIZER CHIEFS THIS PAST SEASON IN WHAT WAS HIS BREAKTHROUGH YEAR. CAN HE BUCK A TREND OF OTHER YOUNG STARS WHO HAVE FAILED TO MAKE THE GRADE AT NATURENA

- Mazola Molefe

A little over four years ago, Mduduzi Shabalala was A a hopeful and immensely talented teenager dreaming of playing for Orlando Pirates.

The secret is now out that he is a huge fan of attacking midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch, a player who stood out for him during the Soweto Derby between the Buccaneers and Kaizer Chiefs.

Now Shabalala is one of Amakhosi's brightest young prospects following his breakthrough season under coach Arthur Zwane during Chiefs' 2022/23 campaign.

"But since I've joined Kaizer Chiefs I had to change and support Chiefs, and I will die as a Kaizer Chiefs fan. At home, I have influenced my mother and siblings to switch to Chiefs, but my father has refused to change", Shabalala said.

That is, very briefly, how his world has turned upside down since signing a three-year contract at Naturena a year ago on the back of spending some time being assessed by top-flight Belgian outfit KV Westerlo.