Mduduzi Shabalala is a firm favourite of the Kaizer Chiefs fans, but he’s got a little Orlando Pirates secret to share.
Mdu Shabalala used to support Orlando Pirates
21-year-old Kaizer Chiefs attacker Mduduzi Shabalala revealed he grew up supporting Orlando Pirates but says now he will “die a Chiefs fan”. The young attacker has become a key operator Chiefs in the 2024-2025 campaign in a new number 10 role. He’s got four goals and an assist in 25 league appearances.
‘Mdu’, as he is affectionately known, worshipped Thembinkosi Lorch when growing up in an all-Pirates household. With Lorch having moved on to Sundowns, there’s space in the fixture for another star to make a name for himself in South Africa’s premier club fixture.
Shabalala recalls the first Soweto Derby he attended in “about 2019 or 2020, where Chiefs were leading 1-0 and Lorch equalised after a pass from Ben Motshwari”.
Orlando Pirates are a wounded animal
Meanwhile, after a devastating week which saw the Sea Robbers defeated in the Champions League semis and fall 12 points adrift of Betway Premiership leaders Sundowns, something has to give.
Benni for the top Orlando Pirates job?
Benni McCarthy started his coaching journey at Sint-Truiden, where he was the Belgian club’s assistant manager from 2015 to 2016. He then presided over 89 matches at Cape Town City as their head coach, winning the MTN9 in 2018-2019. His next head coach role was with AmaZulu, a club he guided to the Caf Champions League for the first time in their history. All of those roles preceded arguably his most glamorous position to date: first-team attacking coach at Manchester United. With the 2023-2024 FA Cup now in his cabinet, Benni’s tasted success in the dugout on two occasions and will want more of that feeling. Mr McCarthy is now the head coach of Kenya’s Harambee Stars.
Is Benni a prime candidate to take over at Pirates?
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