Nabi Rules Chiefs Out Of Carling, Aims for Long-Term Success
Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has ruled out his side as contenders for the Carling Knockout trophy or the league title, but he remains determined to help Amakhosi become serious contenders in the future.
Chiefs will host Mamelodi Sundowns in the Carling Knockout quarter-final at a sold-out FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon (18:00).
Given that Chiefs finished a disappointing 10th last season, Nabi acknowledges that fans cannot expect immediate results that would challenge cup kings Orlando Pirates and seven-time successive league champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
The club’s worst-ever finish in the PSL era prompted them to appoint the Tunisian coach to rectify the damage and restore order and stability to a side that hasn’t won a trophy since 2015.
An early winning streak raised hopes of a positive direction, but Sundowns halted that momentum before the October international break.
“Media reports are suggesting that Kaizer Chiefs are immediate contenders for a trophy or the league title, but that’s not the case,” Nabi explained.
“But we have to play and get the right results right. But in the meantime, something has happened in the previous years, 10 years without a trophy. Last year it was probably the worst season in history with the club finishing 10th, bringing us to the objection of a long-term project: becoming the Kaizer Chiefs everyone wants to see, to be on top of the table to challenge any trophy.
“In the meantime, there is steps and we need to go very methodically with what we want to do with Kaizer Chiefs.
“Because we don’t want to create chaos or misunderstanding with our fans. But we promised them we are doing everything we can to reach that level as soon as possible and that’s why we are calling the media not to influence people that Kaizer Chiefs is a contender for the league and immediately that is not the case.
“If we see where we are coming from and where we are going, which brings us to your question about the performances of our young players from the academy like Samkelo Zwane, Mfundo Vilakazi, Mdu Shabalala, Wandile Duba, Nkosi Ngcobo and the others, those players are the capital for Kaizer Chiefs and they are a great capital which says that we need to compliment the team with players with experience and quality to make even the youngsters to grow and to make Kaizer Chiefs reach better places.
“It doesn’t mean we want to put those players aside, no, but we want players of quality and experience who will complement the youngsters to make good balance for the team.”
