Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi has urged Kaizer Chiefs supporters to exercise patience and offer greater encouragement to young midfielders Mfundo Vilakazi and Mduduzi Shabalala amid growing criticism of their performances.

Maswanganyi believes that young footballers need time and support to develop their abilities, warning that excessive criticism can damage their confidence and negatively affect their progress. He has called on supporters to understand that mistakes are part of the learning process for inexperienced players.

His comments follow Chiefs' recent Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final encounter against Siwelele FC, where Shabalala experienced a difficult moment after missing a penalty. The midfielder attracted criticism from some supporters, with sections of the crowd reportedly signalling for him to be substituted.

However, Shabalala remained on the pitch and eventually played an important role in Chiefs' comeback after winning another penalty that helped his team get back into the contest.

For Maswanganyi, the incident perfectly illustrated why supporters should avoid judging young players too quickly.

The Bafana Bafana international explained that substituting Shabalala immediately after his missed penalty could have affected the outcome of the match.

He pointed out that the youngster deserved an opportunity to recover from his mistake, which ultimately proved important for Chiefs.

Maswanganyi also included Vilakazi in his message, emphasising that both players are still developing and should be allowed to learn without constantly facing pressure from supporters.

The former Pirates midfielder believes South African football must do more to protect and nurture its promising young talents, particularly those who could become important members of Bafana Bafana in the future.

With Chiefs continuing to invest in young players, Maswanganyi's message serves as a reminder that patience and encouragement can play an important role in their development. He believes supporters should help build their confidence rather than discourage them whenever they experience difficult moments.

Source

https://x.com/ChiefsCentralZA/status/2120894613078630686?a=weZ0MV_8HYYRYVAMUKE&s=19