Mduduzi Shabalala slammed for being too flashy and costing Nasreddine Nabi’s side in the Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates - 'He tried to be overly clever, he tried to be smart'

Kaizer Chiefs suffered yet another painful defeat to arch-rivals Orlando Pirates, marking their second derby loss of the season. Both goals from the Buccaneers came directly after costly mistakes by young midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala—one in each half.

The errors proved to be turning points in the match, shifting momentum in Pirates' favour. Chiefs struggled to recover each time, and Pirates took full advantage to seal the win. Former Amakhosi midfielder Frank Makua has since spoken out, calling for the youngster to simplify his game.

Makua believes Shabalala has the talent but needs to make smarter decisions under pressure. The result puts more pressure on the team and the coaching staff to turn things around.

"Against Pirates, they made errors. The goal by Evidence Makgopa came from a counter-attack initiated by a poor pass from Mduduzi Shabalala," notes the retired player, as reported by KickOff.com.

"He attempted to pass the ball to Pule Mmodi when he could have played it to Gaston Sirino instead. He wasn't confident that his pass would reach the intended target.

"What these young players fail to grasp is that, in such matches, there's no need for fancy plays. Keeping it simple is crucial. Shabalala tried to be overly clever. He tried to be smart," he added.

"Also, the combination of Edmilson Dove and Zitha Kwinika was ineffective, as was the partnership of Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Yusuf Maart in midfield. There was a lack of creativity, and Ngcobo had a particularly quiet game.

"I expected Thabo Cele to start, but it’s clear that he is one of those players coach Nasreddine Nabi is saving for the Nedbank Cup final," he went on.

Nasreddine Nabi may not have won a derby since taking charge at Chiefs, but he now has a golden opportunity for redemption. A win in the upcoming Nedbank Cup Final would not only secure silverware but also break the derby curse against Jose Riveiro.

Victory would mark Chiefs’ first major trophy in a decade and restore belief among fans. With tensions high, Nabi must get his tactics right and rally his squad around a winning mindset. The stage is set for a defining moment in his tenure at Naturena.

Chiefs will get another crack at Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final, a chance to salvage pride and win silverware. It’s a must-win showdown for the Glamour Boys.