Posted in Features, News on Feb 02, 2026.
When he took to the field to replace Mfundo Vilakazi one minute after the hour mark in Amakhosi’s 1-0 win over ZESCO United in their TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup Group D encounter in Ndolo, Zambia last month, Mduduzi Shabalala brought up his century of appearances in the famous Gold & Black of Kaizer Chiefs.
The 22-year-old made his senior bow in 2022 at the age of 18 after graduating from the Club’s youth development academy and starring for the Reserves in the DStv Diski Challenge.
“I am so excited to reach this milestone. It hasn’t been an easy journey for me, a lot of ups and downs. But I am very glad my 100th game came at a good moment for the team and I am hoping to reach more appearances for Amakhosi,” he said after Chiefs’ 1-0 win over ZESCO at Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban on Sunday when he was presented with a commemorative jersey to mark the occasion.
The talented playmaker, who has six assists to add to the 11 goals he has scored for the Glamour Boys, revealed that he didn’t realise he was on the verge of a notable achievement in his career at the time.
“Actually, I didn’t know I had reached my 100th appearance. I hadn’t really thought about it,” he admitted, “but I am so grateful to the Chairman, the coaches for believing in me at such a young age and giving me the opportunity and the support.”
The man known as ‘Mdu-or-Die’ will be hoping to make his 103rd appearance on Wednesday evening when Amakhosi travel to the Western Cape to Face Stellenbosch in their first defence of the Nedbank Cup, a trophy Shabalala helped Chiefs to win last season, and he aims to put a lot more silverware in the trophy cabinet of the Club he has supported since childhood.
“My ambition is to play many more times and score a lot of goals and win many trophies for this wonderful Club,” he said.
