Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi hasn’t forgotten the significance of the trophy he won with the club, ending a painful 10-year silverware drought — even as questions mount after Chiefs missed out on a Top 8 finish for the second year running.
On the final day of the Betway Premiership season, Chiefs needed a win against Polokwane City to secure a Top 8 spot but were held to a draw. This result means Amakhosi finished ninth, one of their poorest league performances in recent memory.
Despite this setback, Nabi insists the Nedbank Cup victory should not be discounted.
“I won’t let today’s result diminish what the team achieved this season,” Nabi told SuperSport TV.
“FIFA recognises two champions: the league winner and the cup winner. No one can take away what we accomplished after 10 years without a trophy.”
He admitted missing out on the MTN8 was disappointing but emphasized the club is still in a rebuilding phase.
“This is a transition season. My focus is on building a model of play. Our main challenge is scoring goals and efficiency. If we had a reliable striker, I’d probably rank this season higher,” Nabi explained.
The Tunisian coach remains realistic about the struggles, acknowledging he’s not satisfied with the league finish but believes the process matters most.
“After winning the Nedbank Cup, I said the same — the trophy is important, but so is the process. I don’t change my approach every game.”
Since taking over, Nabi has won 14 out of 35 matches across all competitions. While he’s signed on for three years, his future at Naturena is uncertain amid mixed results and fan pressure.
