Former Kaizer Chiefs prospect Xolani “Touch” Mabaso has opened up about the regrets surrounding his time at Naturena, admitting that complacency and a lack of maturity affected his opportunity to establish himself at one of South Africa’s biggest clubs.
Mabaso, now 40, was once regarded as a promising youngster at Kaizer Chiefs, where he found himself surrounded by some of the biggest names in South African football.
Looking back, however, the former striker believes the environment may have contributed to a mindset that ultimately worked against him.
Mabaso Admits He Took His Chiefs Opportunity For Granted
Reflecting on his time at Kaizer Chiefs, Mabaso acknowledged that he became too comfortable at a club packed with established talent.
Speaking to Soccer Laduma, he admitted that footballers can sometimes become ignorant of what is required to succeed, particularly when they are already surrounded by high-profile players.
“As footballers, sometimes we can be ignorant,” Mabaso said.
The former Chiefs prospect explained that simply being part of such a strong squad gave him the impression that opportunities would eventually come his way.
“Chiefs had the cream of the crop in their team at the time, and just by being part of the group, I expected things to just happen for me.”
That mindset, he now believes, prevented him from taking a more proactive approach to earning his place in the starting XI.
Instead Of Working Harder, Mabaso Questioned His Lack Of Game Time
Mabaso revealed that when regular opportunities failed to materialise, his reaction was not necessarily to push himself harder.
Instead, he began questioning why he was not being selected.
“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 admitted.
It is a lesson that Mabaso appears to have taken with him long after leaving Naturena.
His comments offer an honest reflection on the pressure and expectations faced by young players who break into the environment of a major club but struggle to turn potential into consistent first-team football.
Unhappiness Also Affected Mabaso’s Performance
According to Mabaso, his struggles at Chiefs were compounded by his state of mind toward the end of his time at the club.
The former striker admitted that he was unhappy, and believes that unhappiness eventually affected his performances.
“Once you are not happy, you can hardly achieve anything, not just in football but in life,” he said.
Mabaso believes his situation ultimately took a toll on his performance levels, leaving him disappointed about how his Chiefs chapter unfolded.
While he accepts responsibility for some of his decisions, he also recognises that certain aspects of his career cannot be changed.
“But that’s life, and some things we can’t change,” he reflected.
Chiefs Prepare For Stellenbosch Clash
Kaizer Chiefs are now preparing for their upcoming Betway Premiership encounter against Stellenbosch, with the club managing a number of injury concerns.
There has been some positive news on the injury front, however, with striker Flavio Silva returning to training alongside Khanyisa Mayo, who has recovered from a hernia operation.
Young winger Langelihle Phili is also nearing a return after suffering a serious ankle injury during training in late August.
Phili could potentially return for Chiefs’ home match against Stellenbosch on Tuesday, 13 October, with kick-off scheduled for 19:30.
While the current Chiefs squad looks to the future, Mabaso’s reflections serve as a reminder of how quickly opportunities can disappear for young players — and how important mindset, hard work and maturity can be when trying to make the most of a chance at Naturena.
