Amidst the celebrations of a thrilling 2-1 comeback win against Marumo Gallants, Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi delivered a heartfelt plea, reminiscent of the transformative impact he had at Young Africans.
A resurgent Amakhosi bounced back to beat home side, Gallants, at the Toyota Stadium courtesy of goals by Mduduzi Shabalala and Mfundo Vilakazi. But while everyone was celebrating the win, Nabi had a heartfelt call to make – “please give me time”.
Interestingly, when the Belgian of Tunisian descent took charge at the Dar es Salaam giants, Yanga SC, on April 21, 2021, the club was mired in a four-year trophy drought.
It’s important to remember that during those lean years, Yanga faced significant financial challenges and could only watch helplessly as their rivals Simba SC dominated the Tanzanian topflight.
The sharpest dagger in any Yanga fan’s heart was witnessing their Kariakoo rivals win four league titles on the trot when they could barely keep the lights on at Jangwani Street.
At the heart of Timu ya Wananchi’s crisis, which began half a decade ago, was a financial storm triggered by the departure of a businessman who had been the team’s primary financial backer.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER YUSUF MANJI’S RELEASE?
Following his arrest in 2015, the late business tycoon Yusuf Manji was no longer able to fund the team. Upon his release in 2018, he left for the United States.
Yanga’s situation quickly became a stark illustration of the dangers of relying on a single individual to bankroll a top club with ambitions of consistently competing for top honors in modern football.
But with the guidance of Engineer Hersi Ally Said, now Yanga’s president, they were able to turn their financial fortunes around.
Nabi arrived midway through the season, having only six months to implement his strategies. Upon taking charge at Yanga, he initiated a significant squad overhaul, releasing eight players who didn’t align with his vision.
At the start of the 2021/22 season, they brought in around nine new players who formed the foundation of his formidable squad. This was notably the same season Fiston Mayele joined the club.
Once settled, he proved unstoppable, leading Yanga on a record-breaking 49-game unbeaten streak and securing their 28th NBC Premier League title. The following season, 2022/23, he guided them to an unchallenged 29th title, further solidifying their dominance.
In his two complete seasons in Tanzania, he achieved a clean sweep of every available trophy in the East African nation. Six trophies for Yanga, and none for their rivals Simba, was and remains a source of immense joy for any Mwananchi [Yanga fan]. In addition, he guided them to the final of the CAF Confederation Cup.
WHAT IS NASREDDINE NABI’S PLEA TO KAIZER CHIEFS
Nabi has since made a heartfelt plea for time to implement his vision at the Soweto giants, assuring fans that he will deliver a team worthy of their support if given the opportunity.
In his post-match interview, Nabi expressed his commitment to the club and its supporters, but also voiced his frustration with the current situation.
“Please give me time, lovely club, lovely fans, if you give me time I promise you I’ll be cooking for you [what is worthy of] a big team. But I’m not very happy with too many things,” Nabi stated candidly.
The Tunisian tactician stressed that his focus remains on building a winning team and fostering a positive team spirit. He expressed satisfaction with the performance of new players but reiterated the need for more time to fully implement his plans.
“I think the [most important] thing about the game is three points. Team spirit and winning attitude, the new players I’m very happy. But I really have too much work, to cook, like what the fans [are saying],” Nabi explained.
NASREDDINE NABI DEFEND MFUNDO VILAKAZI
Nabi also took the opportunity to defend young star Mfundo Vilakazi, emphasising his desire to protect the player from undue media scrutiny.
“Vilakazi is a young boy, he has a big talent and I do protect him. I protect him from the Media,” the coach asserted. “He’s a big talent in South Africa, I love him, so l need to protect him.”
Nabi’s appeal for patience echoes his successful tenure at Tanzanian giants Young Africans, where he transformed the club into a dominant force after being given time to implement his philosophy.
Chiefs are approaching a decade without a trophy, and Nabi knows his biggest task is to deliver silverware at at Naturena.
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