Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has explained the reasoning behind his decision to start Thabo Cele and Inacio Miguel on the bench during their 2-1 loss to Orlando Pirates in the recent Soweto Derby. Despite both players being part of the matchday squad, neither featured in the starting line-up.
Nabi addressed the media after the defeat, clarifying that both Cele and Miguel had recently returned from injury. “Cele is still recovering and hasn’t been able to complete full training sessions, so he wasn’t fit enough to start,” Nabi explained. “He’s not yet at the level to play a full 90 minutes.”
He also noted that Miguel was in a similar situation, with the defender not fully recovered to offer a complete performance. The coach’s decision to bench both players came after their absence from the squad for some time due to injuries, but Nabi emphasized their lack of match fitness as the main reason for not starting them.
