Nabi Stays Committed to Tenure Despite Challenges in Top 8 Performance

Kaizer Chiefs’ coach Nasreddine Nabi emphasized that if his team genuinely underperformed, he wouldn’t have led them to victories against Orlando Pirates, Stellenbosch, and Mamelodi Sundowns to secure the Nedbank Cup trophy.

Nabi delivered one of his most passionate press conferences after his team’s inability to secure a top-eight finish following a goalless draw with Polokwane City at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

This heartfelt defense sought to affirm his efforts while underscoring the club’s realization of the necessity for higher-caliber players to consistently compete with Sundowns, Pirates, and Stellenbosch.

However, Nabi noted that in their Nedbank Cup success, Chiefs overcame all those teams en route to the trophy. Still, the pressing issue remains their failure to achieve a top-eight placement, which currently casts a shadow over Nabi’s work in his first season.

As Chiefs wrapped up their season with a goalless draw against Polokwane, it marked their second consecutive failure to finish within the top eight.

Nabi expressed his dissatisfaction with Polokwane’s style of play, labeling it as merely an attempt to make 80-meter passes and “hope for a counterattack.”

“I believe we made this clear. If you desire immediate results like the teams that played on Saturday, what type of football are you envisioning for this club?” Nabi questioned. “It’s an 80-meter pass followed by a counter. Can you picture Kaizer Chiefs playing that way in Africa? Yet Polokwane fared better than my team in the top eight, but with what kind of football?”

“Do you want Kaizer Chiefs to adopt this approach? I came here to establish a particular model of play appropriate for a prestigious club like Kaizer Chiefs. I understand it’s a risk, but I prefer to garner wins based on football principles – offensive, proactive, aligned with the philosophy of Kaizer Chiefs. If we are in the top eight and face Zamalek or Wydad Casablanca, relying on 80-meter passes, is that what you want?”

Nabi then directly challenged the journalists: “Please don’t mislead the fans. As professionals passionate about football, you yearn for beautiful gameplay; assist the fans in understanding that I am here for one style of play – offensive, since Kaizer Chiefs is a top club. Playing a counterattack isn’t feasible for me. Why should it be acceptable for another team to be in the top eight while succeeding in that manner?”

“Is Stellenbosch superior to us merely because they are in third place? Why have I triumphed over them three times? Why did I manage to defeat Sundowns? Why did I overcome Orlando Pirates? Why? Because this team plays football.”

Nabi has faced considerable criticism at Chiefs this season due to inconsistent results, fueling speculation about his potential dismissal in the upcoming days, despite having ended a decade-long trophy drought.