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Nabi Jumps To Defend His Young Players 

  • November 5, 2024
  • 2 min read
  • 205 Views
Nabi Jumps To Defend His Young Players 

Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi says people must stop criticizing Samkelo Zwane for his performance against Mamelodi Sundowns.

Nabi added that he was not the worst player on the field and it’s just that he was playing against experienced players like Teboho Mokoena and Marcelo Allende on the field.  

Chiefs started their game on Saturday in their 4-0 loss against Mamelodi Sundowns with their academy graduates – Njabulo Blom, Samkelo Zwane, and Mduduzi Shabalala in the midfield trio.

The former Chiefs’ academy players didn’t have a good game on Saturday. In the first goal of Sundowns Zwane lost the ball which made Blom create a penalty as he found an opponent in the 18 area box before 30 minutes. 

Only Mduduzi Shabalala managed to finish this game on Saturday in the midfield trio that started. 

Wandile Duba who is the young player of Chiefs also didn’t finish the game as he was substituted by Mfundo Vilakazi, while Zwane was substituted by Yusuf Maart in the 49th minute. 

Blom on the other side suffered an injury and was substituted by Nkosingiphile Ngcobo. After the game, Nabi revealed that his young players especially Zwane played very well and fans must stop criticizing them because Sundowns has experienced players. 

“Indeed, some of the youngsters didn’t show how they wanted,” Nabi said. 

“You spoke about [Samkelo] Zwane but we believe that it’s a learning curve for those youngsters. The experienced players need to take responsibility [towards these young players]. 

 “All those young players they are looking up to those who are experienced. But they [young players] need to understand how this club is big, how the history of this club is big. That’s what they need to understand and take responsibility for in difficult moments like this.”

The Tunisian tactician continued. “Zwane is a young player, he’s going to improve and he was not the worst player in the field [against Sundowns], but there were adults and more experienced players than him.” 

Chiefs, who only have the league and Nedbank Cup to fight for, are eighth in the log position with seven points after five matches.

They have so much to ponder and fix as they will only be back in action when they face the KZN-based side Richards Bay at Peter Mokaba Stadium on 27 November. 

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Banele Hlakanyana

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