Spencer backs Nabi, but warns: No excuses for Kaizer Chiefs next season

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Derrick Spencer has thrown his weight behind Nasreddine Nabi for now, saying there’ll be no room for the coach to make excuses next season.

Nabi was expected to be Chiefs’ messiah this season: end the team’s barren run and also rebuild a strong side for future generations.

The Tunisia-born coach has been obsessed with the latter, though, saying “completing the process” is much more important than grinding out results.

That didn’t go down well with some of the ‘Khosination’, as they believed that he’s not the right man for the job due to a failure in finding the balance between getting results and rebuilding.

Nabi, for all his flaws since his arrival, might have the last laugh this season, though, as his side could end their drought via the Nedbank Cup.

This is good news for most of Chiefs’ fans, as a win over Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on May 10 will also see them qualify for continental football.

But with the match yet to be played and Pirates clear favourites to win their third Nedbank Cup in a row, Chiefs can’t afford to get carried away.

And that’s why Spencer, speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the StaPlaya programme by SuperSportBet this week, said the coach must be judged by next season’s results.

“It’s not easy coming in as a coach and getting so many players, whereas the team hasn’t been doing well either,” Spencer said.

“I think I will give him this season to build. I think next season, we need to start grinding for results, and try to compete for trophies, such as the league.”

The troubles at Chiefs didn’t start this season, but rather over the last 10 years.

So, for supporters to expect Nabi to wave his magic wand and make them world-beaters was unfair.

After all, there are hurdles such as adapting to a local culture and working with new players and management, that Nabi needed to navigate with his all-foreign technical team.

“It’s been ups and downs, and not what we were expecting. But with all the pressure and the past years of not doing well, it’s not easy coming into such a big team,” Spencer added.

“We had half of the team which consisted of new players. So, we had that and injuries... it hasn’t been easy.

“Hopefully he has adapted to the South African style, and the culture, and now he knows what Chiefs is all about. Going into next season, there’ll be no excuses.”

Sure, the buck stop with Nabi in ensuring that Chiefs return to their best, but the players have to take accountability as well.

That hasn’t been the case as the Amakhosi seem to lack leaders.

Club captain Yusuf Maart has had a love-hate affair with the supporters as naysayers believe he is not fit to lead the team.

Spencer, who was part of the generation of Chiefs seniors such as Cyril Nzama, Patrick Mabedi and Tinashe Nengomashe, knows that one doesn’t have to don the armband to be a leader.

“I think there are some leaders in the team. But with things being difficult, some players tend to  shy away and hide,” Spencer said.

“We need people that are going to come out and show b***s. I remember when we were playing, we had people like Shoes (Moshoeu).

“He would call us into his room and tell us the importance of the badge, and what it meant for him to win.

“So, we need people like that, who’ll call the youngsters and remind them what it means to play for a team such as Chiefs right now.”