Chiefs coach Nabi – ‘This news is bad for me’

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has denied that he is set to be sacked at the end of this season. 

A report in the Sunday Times on May 11 claimed Nabi was going to be dismissed, even after winning the Nedbank Cup.

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“This news came from journalists, not from the club. Why all the time is it ‘Nabi, Nabi, Nabi,’ for what? All of Africa has been calling me to come coach them, thinking I’m a free agent,” Nabi told journalists on Saturday, after Amakhosi’s 1-1 Betway Premiership draw with Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. 

Chiefs’ Nabi – ‘It’s not correct’

“I respect all of you journalists and all journalists should also respect me because this news is bad for me, it creates confusion in my team.

“And this is not correct, it’s not professional, and the information is not correct.” 

Chiefs are having another poor season in the Premiership, and Saturday’s draw means they remain outside the top eight, with just one game left to play. 

A win at home to Polokwane City, however, is highly likely to be enough to qualify Nabi’s team for next season’s MTN8. 

The race for a top eight spot is extremely close, with Chiefs in ninth place on 31 points, trailing seventh-placed Polokwane City by two points. 

Chippa currently sit in eighth, narrowly ahead of Chiefs on goal difference. Marumo Gallants in tenth also have 31 points but are a long way behind Chiefs and Chippa on goal difference. 

The log-jam at the mid-to-bottom of the table is reflected in the fact that SuperSport United, who have three games left to play, can still make the top eight, but could also still be relegated. 

If Chiefs are to beat Polokwane City, they will have to end a run of eight consecutive Premiership matches without a victory. 

Winger Glody Lilepo grabbed Chiefs’ equaliser in Saturday’s draw with Sekhukhune, but Nabi feels there is still more to come from the Congolese forward. Lilepo signed for Chiefs in the January transfer window. 

‘Not yet reached his full potential’

“We feel he is a player who has not yet reached his full potential … before coming here he spent some months without playing due to difficulties with his previous team,” said Nabi.

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“Once he reaches his full physical potential and he understands his teammates and has had a good preseason, he is a player that can do more.”