Sheppard Calls For Patience As Chiefs Youth Graduates Face Scrutiny
Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Dillon Sheppard has urged supporters to remain patient with the club’s young players, emphasising the importance of giving academy graduates sufficient time to develop.
His comments come after Amakhosi played out a 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch FC in their Betway Premiership encounter at FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening, with Mduduzi Shabalala getting on the scoresheet for the Soweto giants.
Chiefs have continued to promote young talents from their academy to the senior team, but several graduates have struggled to establish themselves consistently at the highest level since 2018.
While some youngsters have impressed in the reserve team, translating those performances into first-team success has often proved challenging.
Current youngsters Shabalala, Wandile Duba and Mfundo Vilakazi have also faced criticism from sections of the Chiefs faithful as they continue to find their feet in the senior setup.
However, Shabalala’s goal against Stellenbosch provided a positive moment as the club looks to get the best out of its emerging talents.
Sheppard believes Chiefs deserve recognition for the number of academy graduates they have introduced to the first team over the past three years.
“If you look at the number of young players we have promoted over the last three years and the number of academy graduates in our squad, I’m not sure there is any other team in the league that has promoted as many players to the first team,” he said.
“Players like Shabalala, Vilakazi and probably Duba have been in the first team for several years, so they have had time to adjust to the level and understand what it means to wear the Kaizer Chiefs jersey. We all know how heavy that jersey is and the responsibilities that come with it. They have done really, really well.
“We have other young players coming through who will need time. Young players can be inconsistent, so senior players need to create a stable environment where they can develop without carrying too much pressure.”
Chiefs’ academy system has also produced players who have gone on to pursue opportunities abroad, highlighting the potential within the club’s development structures.
Siyabonga Ngezana and Aden McCarthy are among the graduates who have taken their careers beyond South African football. Ngezana featured in the UEFA Europa League last season, including a match against Manchester United, while playing for Romanian side FCSB.
McCarthy has also progressed to European football and is competing in the UEFA Champions League this season with Sabah, where he has faced Manchester United.
Their journeys demonstrate that opportunities can arise for Chiefs graduates who continue to develop and perform at the highest level.
Njabulo Blom also ventured abroad when he joined Major League Soccer side St. Louis CITY SC. However, he has since returned to South Africa and is now playing for Stellenbosch FC.
Sheppard acknowledged that not every academy graduate can remain at Naturena, with competition for places and squad limitations sometimes forcing young players to seek opportunities elsewhere.
“As a club, we can be very proud of the young players we are producing,” he added.
“There is a limit to how many youngsters you can have in one squad, so it is normal to see some players move to other clubs. We have seen players like Aden McCarthy go on to play in the UEFA Champions League.
“We will continue producing players because that is the most important thing. With time, they will improve and get better. The quality is there; it is just a matter of giving them time to show it.”
Amakhosi will now turn their attention to their next fixture as they look to return to winning ways following Tuesday’s draw against Stellenbosch.
Their next assignment will be against Zambian side Red Arrows in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round. Chiefs’ academy graduates will be hoping to contribute to the team’s success while continuing to develop at senior level.
