Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Cedric Kaze has explained how the club’s head coach, Nasreddine Nabi, has dealt with “harsh” criticism that he and his technical team have encountered during their first season in the PSL.
Chiefs appointed Nabi as head coach ahead of the current season, and his impressive track record with previous clubs led to high expectations.
His previous achievements include two successful seasons with Young Africans in Tanzania, where he achieved a clean sweep of every available trophy, winning back-to-back trebles. Additionally, he guided them to the final of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Before joining Chiefs, Nabi also managed AS FAR Rabat in the 2023/24 season. They finished as runners-up to Raja Casablanca in the league and were beaten 2-1 by the same club in the Moroccan Throne Cup final.
Nabi’s impressive track record extends beyond his recent successes. In Sudan, he guided Al-Merrikh SC to a Premier League and Sudanese Cup double in the 2021/22 season, also reaching the CAF Champions League quarter-finals with the club. His earlier achievements include winning the CAF Confederation Cup with Congo’s FC Leopards in 2012.
Despite the expectation to quickly turn things around at Amakhosi, Nabi has faced a challenging start with the Betway Premiership giants. Amakhosi have played 33 matches so far in all competitions, resulting in 13 wins, seven draws, and 13 losses.
Kaze says the fans’ demand for improvements provides Nabi with motivation to find solutions. However, he also stated that the Tunisian tactician doesn’t understand the “harsh” criticism he has received.
KAZE SAYS NABI IS READY FOR NEDBANK CUP FINAL
“I’ve [worked] with coach Nabi for almost two years. It’s true that it’s been a difficult season that we have been facing because of the expectations that have not been met yet,” said Kaze.
“But he has a lot of experience, he’s been in a lot of countries with a lot of teams. He understands the expectations. He also understands the struggles we’re going through. That gives him the tools to prepare for the future.
“Sometimes, maybe he doesn’t understand the harsh judgments that he feels are too early to be made.
“But in football we have learnt, not only in South Africa, that the judgements are very quick to come and especially from the outside people who have the privilege of commenting on the results when the results are already there.
“But it’s the job he chose, and I talked to him this morning [Thursday], he’s pretty confident and eager to be on the touchline on Saturday in the Nedbank Cup final.”
Chiefs will take on Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, 10 May.
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