- After claiming the Cultural Urban Festival Africa Cup, Nasreddine Nabi voices concerns about Kaizer Chiefs' shortcomings
- The Glamour Boys edged out PSL rivals Marumo Gallants in a thrilling penalty shootout
- Despite the victory, the Tunisian coach highlights a significant issue threatening his team's momentum
Let me set the scene for you. On Sunday, October 13, 2024, Kaizer Chiefs, led by Tunisian coach Nasreddine Nabi, captured the Cultural Urban Festival Africa Cup. But here's the twist: while the victory was celebrated, Nabi wasn’t entirely satisfied. In fact, he used the moment to point out a glaring issue within his squad that could haunt them in future competitions.
The match against Marumo Gallants was nothing short of dramatic. After 90 minutes of intense play, the scoreboard remained deadlocked at zero. That's when the pressure cooker of penalties came into play, with Kaizer Chiefs eventually triumphing 4-3. The game, which took place at Bloemfontein Stadium, wasn't even guaranteed to happen at one point. Late yesterday, there were concerns about Gallants' participation, but thankfully, organizers confirmed the match would proceed, much to the relief of fans and players alike.
Nabi Opens Up About Kaizer Chiefs' Achilles' Heel
In a candid interview with SABC1 following the match, Nabi expressed his mixed emotions. While he was thrilled to lead his team to victory, he couldn't ignore what he perceives as a major flaw. The problem? His team's inability to capitalize on clear-cut chances.
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The Tunisian coach emphasized that this issue isn’t new. It’s something that has plagued the team in previous encounters, including their match against Mamelodi Sundowns. "It was a very intense game; winning a trophy is always fantastic, but we created so many opportunities," Nabi explained on SABC1. "Just like against Sundowns, we had numerous chances. This is a big problem—we’re missing chances, and it’s something we need to address urgently."
“I want a winning mentality. There are no friendly games. Even in friendlies, you need a positive attitude and a desire to win. In every exercise and training session, I push for victory. If I lose, it’s a problem. It keeps me up at night. I want this winning mentality to permeate through the team.”
“We lost momentum in the game. We handed the initiative to the opposing team, and that’s unacceptable. Secondly, we’re heading into another cup match against SuperSport. If this trend continues and we find ourselves in penalties again, I might need to rethink our penalty takers. Maybe the SuperSport coach was watching, and we can’t afford to repeat these mistakes.”
A First Trophy for Nabi at Kaizer Chiefs
Despite the concerns, this victory marks a significant milestone for Nabi. As Briefly News reported, it’s his first title as the head coach of Kaizer Chiefs. The win over Marumo Gallants in the CUFA Cup solidifies his impact on the Soweto giants, proving that his methods are starting to bear fruit.
One standout performer in this victory was Bruce Brvma. His stellar display underscored the growing synergy between the players and their Tunisian mentor. Under Nabi’s guidance, Kaizer Chiefs are showing signs of improvement, but as the coach himself acknowledges, there’s still work to be done. The focus now shifts to addressing these tactical flaws and ensuring the team remains competitive in upcoming fixtures.
