Nabi Urges Chiefs Fans To Back Team Through Thick And Thin
Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi says that while the team is having a good start to the season, fans must also be there to support them when results take a turn for the worse.
Chiefs have started the season on a high note, winning four of their first five matches, including a 1-0 victory over Golden Arrows at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
The iconic Durban venue was packed to the rafters, and Chiefs rewarded their fans with three points when Flavio Da Silva scored on his debut in the 69th minute for Amakhosi, following a reverse pass by Gaston Sirino.
Chiefs remained in second place with 13 points after five matches, level with log leaders Sekhukhune United, who also won on Saturday against Durban City to maintain the top spot.
Interestingly, Chiefs and Sekhukhune will face off in a top-of-the-table clash at FNB Stadium after the FIFA World Cup qualifying break.
“We came to Kaizer Chiefs, and we knew it had been a tough few seasons for the team,” said Nabi.
“From the beginning, I told the fans and the board that my goal was to come here and help the team return to what Kaizer Chiefs once was.”
Nabi, who was appointed at the start of last season to great fanfare, delivered a trophy for Amakhosi by winning the Nedbank Cup at the Durban venue in his debut season when they beat Orlando Pirates.
The club ended a 10-year trophy drought, but Chiefs still finished outside the top eight for the second time in a row. Based on their current performance, that seems unlikely to be the case this season.
Nabi continued, “We know it is one of the biggest teams in Africa. For the fans, we are very happy about our current performances. But I want to say to them, when we are in a good situation, they should enjoy it and stay passionate. We also need them because, in football, sometimes we encounter difficult situations. The players need your support, as they are human.
“One day, a player can have a bad performance, and in that situation, we need their help to avoid criticism or shouting. Now, we are on a good path, and we are happy about that, but we also need them when the team is struggling, to help us retain our confidence and support the team.”
