Mduduzi Shabalala has reportedly returned to the Kaizer Chiefs senior squad after completing a short rehabilitation programme with the club’s DStv Diski Challenge side.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder’s temporary absence had prompted speculation about his future at Naturena, particularly after he removed photographs of himself wearing a Kaizer Chiefs shirt from his Instagram account.
Supporters also noticed that Shabalala and the club no longer followed one another on social media. The developments led to widespread debate among Amakhosi fans and raised questions about whether the player was set to leave the Soweto club.
Those rumours grew after Shabalala was not included in Kaizer Chiefs’ opening-day Betway Premiership victory over Kruger United. Instead, he travelled to Lesotho with the reserve team for a friendly against Lifofane FC.
However, his absence was not connected to a transfer or disciplinary matter. Shabalala has been recovering from a broken arm, an injury which brought his previous campaign to an early end.
The Kaizer Chiefs technical team believed he needed competitive playing time before resuming senior-team duties. He was therefore given an opportunity to rebuild his match fitness with the DStv Diski Challenge team.
Shabalala started the match against Lifofane FC and played 75 minutes as the reserve side secured a 3-1 victory at Setsoto Stadium in Maseru. The appearance was intended to help him regain sharpness as he worked towards full fitness ahead of the new season.
DStv Diski Challenge coach Vela Khumalo praised the midfielder’s conduct during the trip to Lesotho. He highlighted Shabalala’s professionalism and humility while the player trained and played alongside the reserve squad.
After completing the fitness exercise, Shabalala returned to Johannesburg to rejoin the Kaizer Chiefs senior group. Although his social media activity continues to attract attention from supporters, his immediate focus is understood to be reaching full fitness and competing for a regular place under head coach Fernando Da Cruz.
His return provides Kaizer Chiefs with an additional creative option as they prepare for a demanding 2026/27 campaign. The club will compete in the Betway Premiership, MTN8 and CAF Confederation Cup.
It is not yet known whether Shabalala will be included in the squad for this weekend’s MTN8 quarter-final against Golden Arrows. Amakhosi will face Golden Arrows on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 at the FNB Stadium.
The midfielder’s return will be closely watched by Kaizer Chiefs supporters, particularly after the uncertainty surrounding his recent absence and the online speculation about his relationship with the club.
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