Is the Kaizer Chiefs pair of Mduduzi Shabalala and Wandile Duba doing enough to realise their potential? - 'I hope these two boys will take their football seriously'

Mduduzi Shabalala is in his fifth season playing Premier Soccer League football, while his Kaizer Chiefs teammate Wandile Duba is playing top-flight league football for the fourth term.

Both 21, they have started all Chiefs' three PSL games this season amid high expectations on them after breaking into the Amakhosi first team as teenagers and full of promise.

Having struggled to establish themselves as best performers in local football despite enjoying much attention, veteran coach Mlungisi Ngubane explains what is stalling the two's progress. 

"I'm concerned about Mduduzi; he is not doing enough," Ngubane told KickOff.  

"With Mduduzi and Duba, I don't know what their problem is. They are inconsistent, and they are still young.  

"Perhaps their lifestyle isn't conducive to their performance. If Mduduzi can focus and take his game seriously, he has the talent to become a star. 

"However, he plays well in Cape Town one week and then performs poorly just days later against Richards Bay FC. The same applies to Duba," he added.  

"I sincerely hope these two boys will take Kaizer Chiefs and their football seriously. That's my advice to them. You cannot afford to be inconsistent while playing for Kaizer Chiefs."

Duba and Shabalala are yet to establish themselves as fierce competitors in the mould of other youngsters like Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Thapelo Maseko.

The Chiefs duo is also yet to convince Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos that they deserve to be regulars in the national team.

But with Amakhosi having started the season in top form, that could work in boosting the pair's confidence and form to stake their claim in the national side, should Nasreddine Nabi's side continue winning.

Chiefs will be playing CAF Confederation Cup football this season, and it could be a perfect stage for Shabalala and Duba to prove their critics wrong.

But for now, they have a big match awaiting them on Wednesday when the Soweto giants host Mamelodi Sundowns in a league match at FNB Stadium.