Kaizer Chiefs suffered a predictable defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns this past weekend, leaving them in eighth place on the league table. With only a small gap separating them from teams below, Nasreddine Nabi’s side faces the real possibility of slipping further down into the bottom half of the standings.
This makes their upcoming match against relegation-threatened Magesi FC at FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening all the more crucial, as they look to secure a much-needed win. Following that, they will turn their focus to Saturday’s Nedbank Cup quarter-final against Stellenbosch FC.
However, Chiefs will be without some key players for these upcoming fixtures. Nabi confirmed that Tashreeq Morris is likely to miss both games due to injury, while Gaston Sirino will be absent from the Tuesday match as he is serving a two-match ban after his red card in the 4-1 loss to SuperSport United. Additionally, Thabo Cele will also miss the game due to suspension from accumulating four yellow cards.
Speaking about Sirino, who has yet to make a significant impact since joining the club, Nabi shared: “He’ll be out for about six or seven days. It’s a big blow for us because he’s a striker who brings a lot to the team. He presses well and doesn’t give defenders a moment’s rest. When he went off, we saw that the centre-backs had more time with the ball, and that affected our game. He also holds the ball up well and gives the team time to move forward and take attacking positions. He’s a strong presence in the box, and he can finish off crosses. His absence definitely impacted our game plan.”
Kaizer Chiefs in Need of a Change in Fortune
Following the loss to Sundowns, Nabi reflected on the situation and the pressure mounting on him. “First, congratulations to Sundowns for the three points. I feel frustrated for my players, the fans, and everyone supporting Kaizer Chiefs today,” Nabi said, as quoted by iDiski Times.
He went on to discuss the team’s recent performances: “If we look at the last three games, the first one, if it wasn’t for referee mistakes, we wouldn’t have lost. In the second match, we had a completely off day and were outclassed in every way. Today, we feel it was bad luck to lose. When we look at the bigger picture, we must remember we’re a team that hasn’t won a cup in ten years, and we’re facing a team that has won seven consecutive league titles, is top of African football, and has had much more success.”
The pressure is building on Nabi, and the team’s ability to turn things around in the coming games will be critical to their season’s hopes.
