Kaizer Chiefs’ night took a disastrous turn, conceding an early goal in the third minute when Samir Nurkovic pounced on a close-range opportunity, leaving Bradley Cross exposed at the back. Just days after back-to-back victories over Chippa United (3-0) and Stellenbosch (1-0), Chiefs fans were full of hope going into this clash against struggling SuperSport United. But SuperSport had other plans, dominating the game from the start and outplaying the Glamour Boys.
Despite a 30th-minute header from Makabi Lilepo that equalized for Chiefs, SuperSport quickly responded with Christian Saile, who found the back of the net two minutes later. Saile, who had left Chiefs earlier in January amid much criticism, now had the last laugh against his former club.
Things looked bleak for Chiefs as SuperSport’s Gamphani Lungu added a third goal early in the second half. Then, the situation worsened when Gaston Sirino was shown a red card, leaving Chiefs with 10 men. SuperSport made sure of the result in the 83rd minute when Siphesihle Ndlovu scored, sealing a 4-1 victory that left Chiefs fans in despair.
Nasreddine Nabi’s future as Chiefs’ coach is now under intense scrutiny. The Tunisian coach has faced criticism after previous disappointing results, including the loss to Golden Arrows. There have even been reports of internal tensions at Naturena, with some executives pushing for his dismissal. Adding to the pressure, Nabi is reportedly a candidate for the Tunisian national team job, a position many coaches dream of. This opportunity could weigh heavily on Nabi as he contemplates his future in South Africa.
