Shabba misses Khune and Co

Cape Town - Newly appointed Kaizer Chiefs captain Siphiwe Tshabalala has admitted that the trio of Tefu Mashamaite, Itumeleng Khune and Mandla Masango will be sorely missed.

Tshabalala has taken over the captaincy from previous skippers Mashamaite and Khune who, along with Masango, are currently in the Premiership wilderness after each failed to agree contract extensions with AmaKhosi.

The 30-year-old Tshabalala is quietly hopeful that his former team-mates can return to the Naturena-based giants after admitting their departures have dealt a big blow to the club's aspirations for next season.

"We miss the other players who are not here with us now. I have played with 'Itu' [Khune] for over six years and we are very close. I have learned a lot from them and we would have loved to have them here," Tshabalala told Soccer Laduma.

"They are all good players who we would love to have in the team. We miss them all and their services. We are just waiting to see what happens and if they don't come back then I wish them all the best in their next moves."