Mabaso Reflects on His Time at Kaizer Chiefs
Former Kaizer Chiefs prospect Xolani “Touch” Mabaso has opened up about his time at Naturena, admitting that he allowed complacency to affect his development when he was regarded as a promising young player.
Mabaso, now 40, said being surrounded by some of the biggest names in South African football contributed to an expectation that opportunities would come naturally.
He acknowledged that greater maturity and a stronger work ethic could have changed how his career developed at the club.
Big Names at Chiefs Influenced His Mindset
Mabaso recalled joining a Kaizer Chiefs environment filled with established and highly regarded players.
According to the former midfielder, simply being part of such a talented squad gave him the impression that his chance to play regularly would eventually arrive without him having to force the issue.
“I would like to believe so, that there was that element of lacking here and there at times,” Mabaso said.
He explained that young footballers can sometimes become complacent and admitted that he expected opportunities to come his way because of the quality of the squad around him.
Mabaso Admits He Should Have Worked Harder
Rather than responding to limited playing time by increasing his efforts, Mabaso said he began questioning why he was not being selected.
That reaction, he now believes, was part of the problem.
“When that didn’t happen, I started asking myself questions as to why I wasn’t playing instead of working harder to show that I deserved to play,” he said.
His comments reflect on the difficulties young players can face when trying to establish themselves at a major club surrounded by experienced teammates and strong competition for places.
Unhappiness Also Affected His Performances
Mabaso said his mindset deteriorated toward the end of his time with Chiefs and acknowledged that he was no longer happy at the club.
He believes that unhappiness eventually affected his performances on the pitch.
“Towards the end of my time with Chiefs, I wasn’t happy, and once you are not happy, you can hardly achieve anything, not just in football but in life,” he said.
Mabaso described the period as disappointing and accepted that his circumstances contributed to a decline in his performance levels.
Mabaso’s Career Continued After Chiefs
The former Chiefs player later continued his career elsewhere in South African football.
His most recent club was Mbombela United, which he left in 2018. He has remained without a club since then.
Now looking back on his career, Mabaso has offered a candid assessment of the decisions and attitudes that shaped his time at one of the country’s biggest football clubs.
Kaizer Chiefs Prepare for Stellenbosch
While Mabaso reflects on his past at Naturena, the current Kaizer Chiefs squad is preparing for its next Betway Premiership fixture against Stellenbosch.
The club has been dealing with a number of injuries, although several players have begun moving closer to a return.
Chiefs Receive Injury Boost
Flavio Silva has returned to training, while Khanyisa Mayo has recovered following a hernia operation.
Young winger Langelihle Phili is also approaching a comeback after suffering a serious ankle injury during training in late August.
The 21-year-old could potentially return for Chiefs’ home match against Stellenbosch.
Phili Could Return Against Stellenbosch
Chiefs are scheduled to host Stellenbosch on Tuesday, October 13, with the match set to begin at 19:30.
Phili’s potential return would provide another option for the squad as the club manages its injury list.
For Mabaso, meanwhile, his reflections serve as an account of a promising period at Chiefs that he believes was affected by youthful expectations, frustration and a lack of maturity.
