Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi insists youngsters will continue to play an important role in the squad following Mduduzi Shabalala’s heroics against Magesi FC at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday night.

In a man-of-the-match performance, the 20-year-old attacking midfielder salvaged a point for Amakhosi with two quick-fire goals with less than 15 minutes of regulation time left when the Soweto giants were stunned and 2-0 down against the top-flight rookies. 

Shabalala, who has scored three goals and provided two assists in six appearances across all competitions this season, has been tipped to reach greater heights at Chiefs alongside other youngsters including Mfundo Vilakazi, Samkelo Zwane, Wandile Duba amongst others.

Nabi has constantly provided academy graduates with an opportunity to feature in the first team, having named four homegrown players in the starting XI against Magesi while Happy Mashiane, Duba, and Zwane came off the bench. 

The Tunisian mentor takes pride in merging youth and experience as he believes the youngsters at his disposal have a higher ceiling and has stressed the importance of allowing them to learn from their mistakes. 

“It’s a very good thing for the club and for us to play young players that are coming through our academy, and we believe that they are going to improve a lot which means that we have to let them make mistakes then they can be corrected, ” Nabi said. 

“Because when you criticize them or you note down every mistake that they make it will affect their confidence, but we believe that it’s the beginning of a very bright future for the club and the academy.” 

However, despite Shabalala saving the day, the Chiefs tactician was left unimpressed with his team’s lack of cutting edge in front of goal, stating that there are no positives to take from the match though he acknowledges the change in character. 

“It’s something that we have improved on, the character, but in this kind of game with this kind of club that’s not enough, we need to do more especially at the beginning [of the match], when we have possession, we have to score when we have opportunities, ” lamented Nabi. 

“There is nothing positive that we are taking because we believe that we should have won the three points.” 

The Glamour Boys are on a three-game winless run in the league following back-to-back defeats before the stalemate against Clinton Larsen’s side, which saw them drop down to eighth place in the Betway Premiership standings with seven points after five matches played. 

Now, Nabi’s charges will shift their focus to the highly anticipated Carling Knockout Cup quarterfinal clash against Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB stadium on Saturday as they aim to end the decade-approaching trophy drought at Naturena.