Relebohile Mofokeng’s new role as a playmaker has squeezed his Bafana Bafana teammate and the Kiwi out of regular minutes, limiting their opportunities to influence matches. With game time now harder to come by, both players risk ending the season on a low note. That situation could also hurt their national team prospects ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup if they continue struggling for consistent action.

In order to make the former Mamelodi Sundowns star an effective player, a position where he can express himself fully has been identified. Initially, the playmaker was deployed as the main man behind the strikers, but recently there has been stiff competition for that slot. In the games against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila and Marumo Gallants, he played in a different position and not as a playmaker.

Although much has been expected from the 22-year-old, he has ended up attracting more criticism than praise. After wasting quite a number of chances against Stellenbosch in a Nedbank Cup encounter, his performance was again negatively scrutinised. But there is hope for the South African star; he has been tipped to become a top goal scorer and even a dependable Bafana asset.

As Amakhosi endure a low rate of conversion of created chances into goals, the 22-year-old found himself on the receiving end of criticism for clear opportunities missed against Stellies. The wasted chances proved costly for the Soweto giants as they dropped from the competition and lost a trophy they won last season. Given that Chiefs are hunting for trophies, Shabalala, as one of the playmakers, needs to improve and help the team achieve their ambitions.

As the Sea Robbers chase domestic trophies on two fronts, players face stiff competition for starting slots. One of the positions that is highly contested in the Buccaneers setup is the creative role behind the strikers, a duty that is considered crucial for any team to function seamlessly. The slot was strengthened in the off-season window, and another top star was added in January, making the contest even tighter.