Kaizer Chiefs teenager Mfundo Vilakazi says he’s recently had to delete his Instagram account after being criticised by some fans Kaizer Chiefs teenager Mfundo Vilakazi says he’s recently had to delete his Instagram account after being criticised by some fans. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs/on X
Kaizer Chiefs teenage star Mfundo Vilakazi is learning how to deal with criticism from outside as he aims to build a successful football career.
The youngster, who made his senior debut for the club last season, is taking his first steps in professional football, but has already come in for some criticism from impatient fans.
While in camp with the South African national Under-20 side, the 18-year-old revealed he had recently deleted his Instagram account in a bid to shut out the outside noise.
“I saw on social media they were criticising me. It didn’t affect me because I deleted all of my social media platforms because some people were texting me on Instagram, telling me I don’t deserve to play for Kaizer Chiefs,” Vilakazi said.
Mfundo Vilakazi deleted instagram, here is why 🤧 pic.twitter.com/cFccVaP2jl
— Mnyamani 📽 (@Zikamnyamane) August 21, 2024
“I decided to delete Instagram for two weeks. I still haven’t activated even now because people will keep talking.
“Once the league starts and I’m scoring, the very same people who were criticising me will be saying ‘you need to play for Barcelona’.
“But now that we lost to Young Africans, they are saying ‘that boy doesn’t deserve to play for Kaizer Chiefs’. People will always talk, whether you’re playing well or not,” he said.
Despite all of the criticism, Vilakazi is determined to knuckle down and impress new head coach Nasreddine Nabi and establish himself in the club’s first team.
“I think I need to work hard to be selected on the starting line-up because if I start matches, it will help me to improve my confidence and my game,” Vilakazi said.
“The coach has told me that I can take opponents, or provide assistance for my teammates and I have the technique when it comes to taking shots at the goal. He wants me to take more shots at goal whenever I get to the right spaces.
“He has encouraged me to keep trying until I get it right.”
IOL Sport