Chiefs rally behind Mduduzi Shabalala as continental do-or-die looms

Kaizer Chiefs defender Bradley Cross has called for unity and mental fortitude, springing to the defence of teammate Mduduzi Shabalala following the club’s premature exit from the Nedbank Cup.

The defending champions saw their trophy defence evaporate on Wednesday night at a packed Cape Town Stadium. A sluggish start allowed Stellenbosch FC to race into a two-goal lead within 25 minutes. Despite a spirited second-half fightback, Amakhosi fell 2-1, leaving the faithful looking for answers—and often finding them in the direction of Shabalala.

The 22-year-old attacker has faced a barrage of social media criticism after failing to convert three high-probability chances that could have swung the momentum in the Chiefs’ favour.

“We Have His Back” – Cross on Chiefs’ Mduduzi Shabalala

Speaking from Mphagani Village during a community outreach program for flood victims, Cross emphasised that the locker room remains firmly behind the young star.

“Everyone can miss opportunities. At the end of the day, we all surround him and comfort him,” Cross told the media. “He knows himself, he is strong mentally, and we all have his back.”

Cross noted that “bad days in the office” are an occupational hazard in professional football and insisted that Mduduzi Shabalala possesses the character to move past the setback.

Chiefs have little time to mourn their cup exit. The Soweto giants are now pivoting to a massive CAF Confederation Cup clash against Egyptian side Al Masry this Sunday at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The stakes in Group D are remarkably high. Currently sitting in third place (level on 7 points with Al Masry), Chiefs can simplify their path to the knockout stages significantly this weekend.

The Math for Qualification:

A win by a two-goal margin (e.g., 2-0 or 3-1) would secure Amakhosi a spot in the quarterfinals.

This would render their final group match against Zamalek on February 14 a battle for seeding rather than survival.

“It’s a must-win for us,” Cross admitted. “If we want to proceed through to the next round, it’s definitely a must. We give our all in every competition… we are going to go into this game and give 110 per cent.”

With the Nedbank Cup off the table, the continental stage remains the primary path for Chiefs to deliver silverware to Naturena this season.