Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi had another set-back this past weekend when he side lost to Richards Bay.
Image: tumeleng English Independent Media
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi is far from throwing in the towel on the club's CAF Confederation Cup aspirations, even after suffering a major setback at the hands of relegation-threatened Richards Bay FC this past Sunday.
The defeat, their ninth in the league this season, has put a significant dent in Amakhosi’s hopes of securing a top-three finish. With six points now separating them from third-place Stellenbosch and Chiefs having played one game more, the path to continental football next season has never seemed more distant.
Yet, despite the odds, Nabi is staying focused, refusing to publicly abandon his side’s continental dreams. The Tunisian tactician, when asked about Chiefs' chances of qualifying for next season's CAF competitions, remained composed, acknowledging the tough reality but choosing to focus on the immediate challenges.
"In the situation we are in, we have to take it game by game," Nabi said, his response measured.
"We will see where we are at the end of the season. For now, we can’t afford to get distracted by the bigger picture."
While Chiefs have struggled in attack, only managing two goals in their last five league matches and failing to score in their previous two outings, Nabi is hoping the upcoming Fifa international break will provide the much-needed opportunity for improvement. The break could give him the time and space to work on the team’s attacking issues before their next fixture against Golden Arrows on March 30 at Mpumalanga Stadium.
"I think we play games every three days, and there isn’t much you can work on under those conditions," Nabi explained. "We’ve been struggling in certain areas, and the international break is a good chance for us to get back to basics and fix those issues."
Nabi was also candid about his side’s struggles in their loss to Richards Bay. Despite showing good intentions to create opportunities, Chiefs fell short when it came to breaking down the opposition’s resolute defence.
"They scored early in the second half, and after that, we became nervous. When you start chasing a game like that, you open up spaces for your opponents to exploit, and that’s exactly what happened with their second goal," Nabi said.
The Chiefs coach also pointed out how difficult it was to break down a side like Richards Bay, who were set up to defend deep.
"We tried combinations, we tried crossing, but we lacked that physical presence in attack," he admitted.
"A big striker, someone who can fight for those aerial duels and hold up play, could have made the difference. Credit to Richards Bay; they came here to fight, and they earned their three points."
For Chiefs, the task now is to regroup, reflect, and use the time before their next game to plug the holes that have cost them dearly this season. Only then will they have any chance of making up ground and realising the dream of CAF football next year.
The defeat, their ninth in the league this season, has put a significant dent in Amakhosi’s hopes of securing a top-three finish.
With six points now separating them from third-place Stellenbosch and Chiefs having played one game more, the path to continental football next season has never seemed more distant. Yet, despite the odds, Nabi is staying focused, refusing to publicly abandon his side’s continental dreams.
The Tunisian tactician, when asked about Chiefs' chances of qualifying for next season's CAF competitions, remained composed, acknowledging the tough reality but choosing to focus on the immediate challenges.
