Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has responded to recent remarks made by Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos regarding the exclusion of Amakhosi players from the national team.
This past week, Broos announced the final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin, to be played on 21 and 25 March, respectively.
No Chiefs player made the final cut as Rushwin Dortley, who was in the preliminary squad, was ruled out following an injury.
When Broos unveiled the squad most recently, he was asked about the potential inclusion of the Glamour Boys midfielder Thabo Cele in the near future. He replied, “Yeah, sure [he will be considered].”
However, he clarified that the lack of Chiefs players in the squad is due to the team’s overall performance not being up to par at the moment.
WHAT BROOS SAID ABOUT CHIEFS
“You can’t tell that Chiefs already is back. I thought [they were] maybe at the beginning of the season,” added Broos.
“But I don’t know what happened because they are still struggling. And I saw them yesterday [Wednesday], playing against Cape Town City FC; you can’t say that everything is alright in that team.
“When the team is better, and players play better, surely we will call up players from Chiefs.
“But for the moment, I don’t think that I have to call them because they are really struggling in the league and let’s hope that not only for Chiefs but for all South African football that next year, they are again that team that big team…[that] fight for the championship.”
In response to Broos’ decision to overlook Chiefs players, Nabi said he understands and respects the national team coach’s choices.
He asserted that Cele is a “very good player” and believes he will soon find his way to the national team.
NABI ON BROOS – ‘HE’S THE ONE THAT MAKES CHOICES’
“We have to respect the choices and the decisions of the national team coach because he’s the one who makes the choices, and that doesn’t take away our feeling that Cele is a very good player,” said Nabi.
“And we hope that in the future, he will go back to the national team. We know that by working hard, that time will come.”
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