Nabi Sees Cup Win As Turning Point For Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi believes that winning the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates on Saturday could be a turning point for Amakhosi.
Despite suffering in both league matches against Pirates in the Betway Premiership, including last weekend, Nabi is confident that his team can bounce back and bring home the trophy.
“I believe if we can win this game on Saturday, everything will change for the club,” Nabi said, highlighting the significance of the match.
The last time Chiefs won a domestic competition was against the very same Pirates in the MTN8 at the Durban venue in 2014.
However, Nabi is cautious not to put too much pressure on his players, recognizing that it could impact their performance.
“But I will not put too much pressure on the players because if I put so much pressure on them, they will not bring good results. You need a balance,” he emphasized.
The former AS FAR mentor believes that his players will respond positively to the challenge and approach the game with good morale.
“But trust me, we are going to this game with good morale. We need to fight, and I promise we are going to Durban with big confidence.”
This confidence is crucial, given the team’s struggles in the league, where they currently sit in ninth place with 30 points and only two games left to play.
A Nedbank Cup win would be a significant boost to the team’s morale and season. Chiefs’ last major trophy was in 2015 when they won the league title under coach Stuart Baxter, and since then, they’ve had limited success.
Amakhosi reached the Nedbank Cup final in 2019 but lost to TS Galaxy, who were then playing in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Chiefs’ journey to the final has been impressive, beating Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals to secure their spot. Pirates, on the other hand, won against Marumo Gallants to set up the big final.
The match promises to be an exciting encounter between two Soweto giants, with Chiefs looking to end their trophy drought and Pirates seeking to claim their third consecutive title under the outgoing Spaniard tactician, Jose Riveiro.
The stage is set for a thrilling match at Moses Mabhida Stadium, where Nabi’s words will likely resonate with his players as they prepare to face their arch-rivals.
Will Chiefs be able to bring home the trophy and kick-start a new era of success, or will Pirates continue their dominance? The outcome remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – it will be a match to remember.
