Chabangu was quoted on the Kick-off website as saying Mbalula “is a loser too and must call himself that too” after the minister labelled Bafana players as losers following Bafana’s disappointing first-round exit from the African Nations Championship.
Mbalula’s spokesman, Paena Galane, said yesterday that the minister would not stoop to Chabangu’s level and engage him in a public spat, preferring to refer the matter to the football association.
“We are not going to entertain this issue. We hope that Safa will deal with Chabangu’s issue because all the players and everyone from Bafana have apologised. Whatever he said is that of someone who is in denial.”
Chabangu, who also plays for Moroka Swallows, surprised many by speaking out against the minister’s criticisms of Bafana.
“Obviously that was very bad because you cannot call your son a loser because it even affects our families,” he reportedly said. “He is old enough not to call his son like that, so he is also ‘a bunch of a loser’ because he cannot say that to us. He is a loser too and must call himself that too.”
Meanhwile, Moroka Swallows want to break the hold Kaizer Chiefs seem to have over them when they meet the Absa Premiership log leaders at Dobsonville Stadium tonight.
Swallows have not beaten Chiefs since coach Zeca Marques took over in July 2012 .
But he said that will soon be a thing of the past.
“We can match them man for man and even beat them,” said a confident Marques.
“It’s never been easy to predict games like these, but Chiefs are not invincible.
“The fact that we have also played draws against them proves that we can beat them.”
It’s another game where Chiefs’ large following will expect their team to overcome Swallows.
Chiefs are sitting pretty at the top of the PSL log table with 33 points, leading their nearest rivals, Mamelodi Sundowns, by eight points.
Amakhosi want to win to widen the gap tonight. They tend to apply an ultra-defensive system when they are in the lead.
And in Morgan Gould, Eric Mathoho, Tsepo Masilela, Siboniso Gaxa and Tefu Mashamaite they have the means to put up a solid wall.
On a weekend of derbies, Pretoria University are looking for a strong second half of the season to challenge for a top eight place, but will have their work cut out earning a result against Supersport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium also tonight.
AmaTuks had a steadily improving first half of the season.
The team went into the Christmas and African Nations Championship break in ninth place, just a position off last season’s impressive eighth.
In the Free State derby, Free State Stars will use tomorrow’s game against Bloemfontein Celtic to parade new players, including former Bafana striker Richard Henyekane.
Henyekane, who is the biggest buy for Stars in the transfer window that closes at 5pm today, is expected to be in the starting line-up.
Signed from Mamelodi Sundowns, Henyekane is one of the four players recruited by Stars general manager Rantsi Mokoena in an attempt to move out of the relegation zone.
The other three players signed by the 15th-placed Stars are defender Jurie Basie, winger Salman King and goalkeeper Ayanda Mtshali.
