Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has revealed his stance on whether a local assistant coach would have aided his adaptation in the PSL as Amakhosi continue to struggle in the Betway Premiership.
Nabi, who has been in charge since the beginning of the season, has guided Chiefs to the Nedbank Cup semifinals, showcasing their potential in knockout competitions.
However, their good cup run is juxtaposed with their inconsistent performances in the Betway Premiership. On Saturday, they lost 2-1 to Golden Arrows at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, their tenth loss in the league. This shows the underlying issues that have plagued their campaign despite their progress in the Nedbank Cup, where they will face Mamelodi Sundowns in the semis.
The Soweto giants are also not guaranteed a top-eight finish with seven matches to go in the Premiership. They currently sit on 29 points on the log standings, but clubs below them, like Golden Arrows [27] and Chippa United [28], could leapfrog them if they win their games in hand.
Nabi has repeatedly emphasised the need for patience from the Chiefs fans and management, stressing that building a title-contending team is a gradual process. The Tunisian coach has also reiterated his request for quality players to restore the club to its former glory.
NABI RESPONDS TO CHIEFS ASSISTANT COACH QUESTION
When Nabi arrived in the country, there were divided opinions about whether Chiefs needed to add a local assistant to his technical team. Nabi’s current team consists of Cedric Kaze, Khalil Ben Youssef, Ilyes Mzoughi, and Safi Majdi.
However, the 59-year-old reasoned that he doesn’t depend on nationality to analyse his team or the PSL.
“I don’t think the problem is that aspect [local coach]. Everyone who wears a Kaizer Chiefs jersey is a South African,” said Nabi.
“Before I came to South Africa, I analysed the PSL. If you ask me a question about Chiefs game number 20, I will give you the performance. The problem is not here. If you take this jersey, you are a South African, you are a Khosi.
“The problem is not nationality. All my staff know, if you are a professional, you don’t need much time to analyse the PSL.”
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