| Mduduzi Shabalala | |
| Birth Date: | 20 January 2004 |
| Height: | 1.63 m |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Kaizer Chiefs |
| Clubnumber: | 42 |
| Youthclubs1: | Kaizer Chiefs |
| Years1: | 2022– |
| Clubs1: | Kaizer Chiefs |
| Caps1: | 37 |
| Goals1: | 4 |
| Nationalteam1: | South Africa U17 |
| Nationalteam2: | South Africa U20 |
| Nationalteam3: | South Africa U23 |
| Club-Update: | 24 May 2024 |
| Ntupdate: | 24 May 2024 |
Mduduzi "Mdu" Shabalala (born 20 January 2004) is a South African soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Kaizer Chiefs in the South African Premier Division.
Shabalala grew up as an Orlando Pirates supporter, but joined the Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs at age 18.[1] He had played in the Lenasia Football Academy.[2]
After winning the 2020 COSAFA Under-17 Championship, he went on trial with Villarreal CF.After impressing for Kaizer Chiefs' Diski Challenge Shield team in 2021–22, Shabalala went on trial with KVC Westerlo, and was given his first-team debut against Moroka Swallows in May 2022.[3] According to iDiski Times, Westerlo also made a bid for the player, but the negotiations with the Chiefs broke down.[4]
Shabalala did not win the 2022 COSAFA U-20 Cup with South Africa, which also acted as the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, but was named in the Team of the Tournament.[5] [6] He was formally promoted to Kaizer Chiefs's senior team on 1 December 2022.[7]
Shabalala was called "a standout player" during the winter part of the 2022-23 South African Premier Division.[8] [9] During the 2023-24 South African Premier Division, Shabalala played semi-regularly, but did not establish himself as a key player yet. The team also struggled in mid-table.[10] [11] [12]