Youngsters ‘the future of Chiefs’
TSHABALALA: JUST BE PATIENT, YOUR TURN WILL COME
Crunch time for Amakhosi, Downs at the FNB Stadium.
Long-serving Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala believes the team have youngsters good enough to take over when the time for him and other senior players to hand over the baton comes.
Tshabalala (32) and the likes of Willard Katsande (31), Bernard Parker (31) and Tsepo Masilela (31) have had to carry the team over the past three years, with the youngsters who were brought in failing to oust them from the starting line-ups.
“The youngsters in the team have a bright future,” said Tshabalala.
Of the seven players Amakhosi brought in at the beginning of the season, only three – Sibusiso Khumalo, Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Edmore Chirambandare – have seen regular game time.
The likes of Emmanuel Letlotlo, Luis Macha, Michelle Katsvairo and Keagan Buchanan have only been used sparingly by Steve Komphela which has raised questions about their quality. But Tshabalala said it has nothing to do with that. He believes their chance is still coming.
“They are quality players and they are fighting hard to get into the starting line-up. But guys like Willard Katsande have been working hard so far.
“As for the young ones, they must just keep working hard and know their opportunity will come. It is also a learning curve for them and that they should not take things lightly … there is a time when an opportunity presents itself and you need to take it and run with it,” he added.
Shabba and his team-mates will have to be at their best tomorrow night when they resume their Absa Premiership campaign with a match expected to produce fireworks when they host defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns at the FNB Stadium.
Asked about the match, Shabba said he would rather his team let their feet do the talking for them.
“Coming to a game of this magnitude we cannot say much. We will have to do our talking on the field. We need to be in the right frame of mind ahead of a match like this,” said the player who has scored 50 goals for Amakhosi.