Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has addressed speculation about leaving the club at the end of the season.
This comes on the same day Chiefs’ sporting director, Kaizer Motaung Jr, answered a question about the coach’s future in an intriguing manner.
Reports over the weekend said Chiefs were set to fire the Tunisian mentor, just days after he led the club to a historic Nedbank Cup victory over rivals Orlando Pirates.
The former AS FAR Rabat and Young Africans coach ended Amakhosi’s nine-year trophy drought on Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 over Pirates in Durban. The Sunday Times reported that the club’s management will part ways with Nabi and his entire technical team at the end of the season.
Nabi signed a two-year contract with an additional one-year option at the beginning of the season. In his first season at the club, Amakhosi have struggled for form in the league, winning eight games and drawing six in 26 games.
WHAT KAIZER MOTAUNG JR SAID ABOUT NABI LEAVING CHIEFS
They currently sit in ninth place with two games before the curtain comes down on the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season. Motaung Jr said they would “sit down and review” at the end of the season.
“The coach has got another season with us after this. But, at the same time also, as we do after every season, we sit down and review,” Motaung Jr told 5FM. “We know that the results in the league have been a bit inconsistent. We know we’ve just been able to achieve a record milestone. So, with everything else, we’re moving forward, we’re planning the way forward.
“We want to really savour this moment, use this moment in a massive way moving forward to galvanise supporters and galvanise the tech team, the players and staff for the mission ahead. So, we’re just planning for the future.”
NASREDDINE NABI SPEAKS ON WHETHER HE IS LEAVING CHIEFS
Nabi, on the other hand, said while he was shocked by the news, he remained focused on chasing a top-eight finish. “I’m very surprised about these rumours because we’re concentrated on the remaining two games,” Nabi told MSW on Monday night.
“We need to play these games with a final attitude, with a final spirit, because it’s very important for a top-eight finish. I want to finish in the top eight.”
Amakhosi now turn their focus to the next league encounter. They visit Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday. Following this, they will face Polokwane City FC at the FNB Stadium in what will be the season’s final match.
“We have to concentrate on the remaining two games. We want our players to remain focused and maintain a positive attitude for the remaining two games,” added the 59-year-old coach.
“I don’t want to lose the momentum that the cup has created. I still have a contract. I’m not worried about that [exit reports]. I don’t think this is the best time to discuss this.”
He concluded that the Glamour Boys had become his “family”, adding that if he leaves “he will continue as a member of the family”.
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