Chippa United coach Kwanele Kopo expressed disappointment that his players were unable to effectively tackle Mdu Shabalala, whose individual brilliance resulted in the winning goal for Kaizer Chiefs in their Betway Premiership clash at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.

Shabalala received the ball on the wing and skillfully navigated past four Chippa defenders, who seemed to freeze and fall like felled trees, before unleashing a powerful shot past the near post.

This dazzling display highlighted Shabalala’s growing importance to Chiefs, who are currently struggling for consistent victories. Coach Nasreddine Nabi emphasized that Shabalala is carrying a significant burden on his shoulders.

The victory over Chippa ended Chiefs’ two-match winless streak against their opponents in Durban, having previously suffered a defeat and drawn a match.

“The young man is talented, you can’t take away that from him,” admitted Kopo. 

 
“It is difficult to swallow it because we knew that, the right footer, is always going to cut in. Whether it is Pule Mmodi, Shabalala, Wandile Dube, it was always going to be that movement. 

“I think Seun Ndlovu, who was playing as the right back, I think one the first action of allowing him to cut inside and once he come inside, he is close to the box, I think everybody was scared of committing a penalty, committing a foul. 

“One instance where we allowed it and the boy does well. A little bit disappointing that we conceded on the first post, but maybe Stanley Nwabali is anticipating a curler on the other side.”  

Shabalala’s fourth league goal of the season solidified his position as Chiefs’ top scorer, surpassing teammate Ranga Chivaviro.

Unhappy with his team’s first-half performance, coach Kopo substituted Ayabulela Konqobe, who was visibly frustrated, and immediately headed down the tunnel.

Konqobe was replaced by Baraka Majogoro, as Kopo explained that Konqobe was not fulfilling his tactical responsibilities.

“I felt he was not applying himself tactically as we had instructed,” explained Kopo.

“He hardly touched the ball, he was not really in the right spaces when we were in position and he struggled to help us press Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Yusuf Maart, that was the reason.  

“It is not the nice thing to do, but for us to try and grab the game we had to do it. I felt when Baraka came in, there was a little bit more stability in the midfield.”