Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has unequivocally laid down the marker that their main objective is to win the Nedbank Cup and qualify for next season’s CAF competition. 

Amakhosi beat Stellenbosch 3-1 in the quarterfinal of the Nedbank at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday evening. Inacio Miguel, Pule Mmodi and Mfundo Vilakazi scored the three winning goals for Amakhosi, with Andre de Jong scoring what proved to be the consolation.

Chiefs will now face the winner between Mamelodi Sundowns and Sekhukhune United, which was supposed to have taken place on Saturday, but was postponed after the venue was double booked. It is not clear when this game will take place. 

“It’s true that now we are two games away from winning the trophy, but the only thing that we have to think about is the next game,” Nabi said. 

“The next game is a semi-final, if you don’t pass through it, I think you can’t cross to the cup. Our ambition indeed is to go all the way [and win the trophy], but we are taking game by game and the next game is going to be a semi-final. 

 “It’s true that our wheel is to go to CAF competition next season. A big club like Kaizer Chiefs needs to be on the continental tournament, but as well for the league we have to play so that it will allow us to go to CAF. 

“But it’s about the process first, not because I won on Saturday, but it’s about the process.” 

Chiefs last win of this trophy was in 2013 when they beat SuperSport United at the Moses Mabhida Stadium through a cracking strike by Bernard Parker. It was at the same venue when they last reached the final of this cup in 2019, when they were stunned by Motsepe Foundation Championship side then TS Galaxy. 

In Port Elizabeth, Chiefs’ fans came in numbers to support the club at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Nabi was left speechless about the number of fans that attended the game. 

“A big thanks to the millions of fans that came in numbers,” the former AS FAR Rabat coach added. “We knew that Kaizer Chiefs is a very popular club, and is a big club too. 

“We saw it first hand when we lost against Mamelodi Sundowns, millions of people stood after the game even after losing.  On Saturday, the fans pushed through the game and the only thing we can say is that we are working very hard every day to give those moments of joy more often and bring back the Chiefs where it belongs.”