Kaizer Chiefs star Mduduzi Shabalala breaks silence on injury setback that ended his FIFA World Cup dream - 'It’s difficult to talk about that'

Kaizer Chiefs playmaker Mduduzi Shabalala has broken his silence after a devastating injury that abruptly ended his 2025/26 campaign and shattered his 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes.

The 22-year-old midfielder was stretchered off late in the first half of Amakhosi's heated Betway Premiership clash against Mamelodi Sundowns at Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld Stadium on May 6.

The timing of the injury proved to be a bitter pill to swallow, as it occurred just days before Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos finalised his squad selections.

Speaking about the incident, Shabalala admitted that the memories are still painful to revisit.

"For me, even now it’s difficult to talk about that," Shabalala revealed, as per KickOff. "Because I was in the game and I was feeling the game, I was enjoying the moment. We were not playing with pressure; we were just expressing ourselves.

"So, I think me going into that incident, I think I received the ball from Pule [Mmodi] and after receiving, I opened my body. I heard something on my leg; he [ayden Adams] tackled me on my right foot.

The midfielder went on to explain the mechanics of the fall that resulted in the fractured humerus. "I fell. Also, I didn’t want to fall straight, because I did not want to land on my shoulder; I wanted to land on my back. Unfortunately, that’s where the problem started."

"The plan was to land on my back, but my hand was still behind; I didn’t turn my body quickly enough.

"To me, it was to say, maybe it’s not my turn. I should wait for my turn; maybe God does things in his own way, and he knows why he put me in this situation.

"I believe my turn will come again; I will come back soon and I will come back strong."

The injury was a significant blow to a Chiefs side that relied heavily on Shabalala's vision and ability to link the play between midfield and attack.

His absence was felt throughout the final weeks of the season, but the player himself focused entirely on a rigorous rehabilitation programme.

Despite the physical pain and the mental anguish of missing the World Cup, Shabalala remained positive throughout his time on the sidelines.

His focus remained on returning to full fitness to help the Glamour Boys reclaim their status at the top of South African football.

Shabalala has wasted no time in making his presence felt since completing his rehabilitation.

He marked his highly anticipated return to competitive football in emphatic style, coming off the bench to score a vital 84th-minute goal for Chiefs in their 2-0 victory over Sekhukhune United at the FNB Stadium on August 12.

Having proven his fitness and hunger, the resilient midfielder will undoubtedly be keeping one eye on reclaiming a permanent spot in Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] qualifiers.

With his injury nightmare now firmly in the rearview mirror, Shabalala is ready to prove that he remains one of the brightest talents in the country.