Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef has explained the reason behind omitting Mduduzi Shabalala from the matchday squad against Free Agents at FNB Stadium on Sunday, including depriving Samkelo Zwane and Njabulo Blom minutes off the bench.

The Soweto giants ran riot against the Gauteng ABC Motsepe League team to secure their ticket to the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup. Pule Mmodi grabbed a first-half brace before defender Miguel Inacio and Ranga Chivaviro rounded up the scoring.

While Blom and Zwane were unused substitutes, Amakhosi had to get over the line without the reliable services of Shabalala, who was absent for the second game in a row. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has scored four goals and provided two assists in 15 matches across all competitions.

“We had to manage this game [vs Free Agents] because we have the derby coming up ( against Orlando Pirates on Saturday). So, we had to manage some players who had three yellow cards, Zwane, Blom, and Shabalala. Yusuf Maart, we took a risk with him, but we discussed it,” explained Ben Youssef.

Ben Youssef, acting as head coach in the absence of Nasreddine Nabi, who was serving a two-match suspension after receiving a red card in Chiefs’ 1-0 loss to Golden Arrows earlier this month, has shed light on how they kept players focused on the minnows with the Soweto derby looming.

“We said, ‘If you want to win the derby you have to win this game [vs Free Agents], you have to do well in this game, then you can prepare for the next game. But if you think about the derby and you are not ready today [Sunday], you will not be ready for the derby as well,” added the Tunisian mentor.

“So, we discussed a lot of times with them, we did individual meetings for the players to encourage and push them to focus only on the Nedbank Cup game and games against lower division sides are always difficult because we have more pressure on our side, unlike them.”

Moreover, Chiefs’ second in command highlighted how the encounter against the third-tier side aided their preparations for the heavyweight collision with in-form Pirates. Ben Youssef expressed delight that his men avoided bookings but remain worried about Wandile Duba’s injury.

“All the games help us, including friendly games to keep the fitness level and they give you an idea inside [the pitch]. I think it was a very good game; Free Agents has a lot of ideas and structure; and I like this team,” he said.

“The most important thing is that we didn’t get any red cards or yellow cards for some players which could have seen them miss the derby. The only problem is the injury of Wandile Duba, I hope it’s not big and serious.

“We hope he will be ready [for the derby] because he performed well in the last three or four games. Like I said before our younger players perform very well, [Mfundo] Vilakazi, Duba, and Shabalala, they all perform well, and we need them.” 

Meanwhile, it was a big day for Chiefs on Monday as they confirmed the signings of Thabo Cele, Tashreeq Morris, and Glody Makabi Lilepo.