PRINCES OF NATURENA

YOUTH HAS BEEN A BIG THEME FOR KAIZER CHIEFS THIS SEASON, SO WHO ARE THEIR THREE MOST EXCITING PROSPECTS?

- Mazola Molefe

Although Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi is counting on the next transfer window effective 1 July to transform the club, he may still want to consider building the future around a few names.

Under sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jnr, the Glamour Boys have made it clear the way forward includes youth academy products.

SoocerClub takes a closer look at three development graduates that have played more minutes combined under Nabi than any other Chiefs coach since being promoted to the first team.

MDUDUZI SHABALALA

Age: 21

Position: Forward

It was a no-brainer for Chiefs to promote Shabalala during the 2021/22 campaign and get his senior debut under then coach Arthur Zwane.

After all, the player had been turning heads in the DStv Diski Challenge with a performance that no one could ignore.

Perhaps the roller-coaster ride the team endured in what was subsequently Zwane's first full season several months later also contributed to Shabalala's progress stalling - even more so under Molefi Ntseki and Cavin Johnson.

Despite all three coaches being firm believers in the youth system, the pressure of needing to end Chiefs' trophy drought likely affected a player lacking experience like Shabalala in an environment where there was now no room for error.

Chiefs also declined an offer from Belgium outfit Westerlo to take Shabalala on loan with a commitment to buy him outright. The club felt he was worth a lot more than what their international counterparts were offering.