'Mdu is a special talent': Zwane applauds 19-year-old for Soweto derby 'arrogance'

At 19 years old, Mduduzi Shabalala experienced his first Soweto derby as a senior member of Kaizer Chiefs in their 1-0 victory over rivals Orlando Pirates on Saturday at FNB Stadium.

"It was good to see a youngster like Mduduzi going in there and showcasing his talent, showing a bit of arrogance here on the ball," Amakhosi head coach Arthur Zwane told reporters after the game.

"I just hope he will grow in stature and become one of the best players in the future."

Like many other famous Amakhosi academy players of the past, Shabalala wants to ensure that he grasps these opportunities to grow and further cement himself as an asset to the team.

Two months after penning a three-year deal with the club, Shabalala was given his chance by Zwane, coming off the Amakhosi bench in early August last year against Maritzburg United.

It was a six-minute cameo he will remember for the rest of his life as his debut senior appearance coincided with his first goal.

READ | Chiefs coach keeps calm demeanour despite 5th consecutive derby success over Pirates 

That would be a rare outing for the young striker as he had warmed the bench for two games before and only returned to the fray against Golden Arrows on New Year's Eve.

His playing time has since increased in the past two months, but Saturday was the first match he experienced playing the full 90 minutes, which shows that has started to earn Zwane's trust.

The Amakhosi boss believes that throwing youngsters in the deep end will only benefit the football-loving nation as they gain minutes in the legs that can eventually help the national teams.

"Mdu is a special talent. He's more like Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, though he is a bit explosive.

"I'm a believer in giving youngsters the opportunity because