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Mduduzi Shabalala, Kaizer Chiefs, October 2025Backpage
Kiplagat Sang

Hugo Broos replaces Orlando Pirates superstar Relebohile Mofokeng with Kaizer Chiefs attacker ahead of Bafana Bafana's crucial World Cup qualifiers

The Bucs youngster has been ruled out after suffering an injury during their Carling Knockout Cup game against Siwelele. Ahead of the vital games, the Mofokeng absence is another setback that Bafana are facing, apart from the FIFA decision to deduct their points.

  • Relebohile Mofokeng, Orlando Pirates, October 2025Backpage

    Chiefs get Bafana representative

    Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has replaced Orlando Pirates star Relebohile Mofokeng with Kaizer Chiefs' Mduduzi Shabalala.

    Broos has been forced to make a late amendment to his 23-man final squad that he recently named after the young man nicknamed President Yama 2000 was injured during the club's duty.

    Broos has also revealed that Sphephelo Sithole and Lyle Foster are yet to join the camp but will do so by Tuesday. 

    The other players started arriving in camp on Monday to prepare for training for the two games lined up this month.  

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  • Hugo Broos, South Africa, October 2025Backpage

    Mofokeng out, Shabalala in

    “We had to replace Rele Mofokeng because of the injury he got on Saturday. We replaced him by Shabalala,” Broos said.

    “Secondly, there are still two players who didn’t arrive because they played yesterday. Foster and Sithole, they will arrive tomorrow morning. Tomorrow afternoon we will be complete to do the training," he added.  

  • Mduduzi Shabalala, Kaizer Chiefs, August 2025Backpagepix

    Will Shabalala play?

    The inclusion of Shabalala means that Chiefs now have a player in the national team. When he trimmed his squad, Broos overlooked the Glamour Boys, although Shabalala was in the provisional squad.  

    Mofokeng has established himself as a key player under Broos, and the Belgian has always started him. Although the Chiefs forward has been called up as a direct replacement, what now remains to be seen is whether the coach will field him. 

    The Amakhosi star was in the squad for the games against Lesotho and Nigeria, but he did not play.

  • Bafana Bafana, August 2025Backpage

    Do-or-die showdowns

    Bafana, now with 14 points, will face Zimbabwe at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday before playing Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium next week on Tuesday.

    These games carry a lot of stakes for the former African champions since they must win and compensate for the points lost through deduction.

    Bafana saw their points reduced by three when FIFA sanctioned them for playing suspended Teboho Mokoena.

    To boost their chances of earning an automatic qualification slot, South Africa must win these games and hope Benin, top of Group C on goal difference, slip up in their games.

    Mathematically, the qualification race became even tighter given that Nigeria, third on the log, have 11 points.