OBAKENG MELETSE
The dim light is shining on the mighty Kaizer Chiefs and all seems to be well after a hard-fought opening victory against Marumo Gallants but new coach Nasreddine Nabi knows there is still much work to do, while also asking for patience as the journey to the end of the tunnel will still be one with many oscillating fortunes.
Match Highlights #Amakhosi4Life #AlwaysHome #BetwayPrem pic.twitter.com/4LroO4xey8
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) September 15, 2024
Through the storms of past performances, Nabi and Co’s future seemingly began successfully at a Free State Stadium filled to capacity. The Amakhosi’s early discovery of form under the guidance of their new mentor didn’t take long to gain momentum and confidence, following their come- from-behind 2-1 victory against the Bloemfontein-based side.
The Soweto Giants returned to Betway Premiership action after a disappointing end to their previous campaign, where they finished in 10th position. They missed out on this season’s MTN8, which also happened to be one of the last trophies they won.
Mduduzi Shabalala and Mfundo Vilakazi cancelled out Sekela Sithole’s early opener on Saturday, with new recruit Gaston Sirino having an impactful debut following his signing from rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.
And while there is still a long way to go before the fat lady even begins to step up to the stage to sing, the first 90 minutes provided by Chiefs against Bahlabane Ba Ntwa revealed a glimpse of what is possibly to come from the 59-year-old and his charges this season.
Amakhosi looked good during certain passages of play, but the match also had moments where they went cold and failed to maintain the threat they carried after they conceded the first goal in the eighth minute. Nevertheless, the Tunisian coach was happy overall with his side’s performance, despite Gallants dominating possession.
“In this sport, we need the players more focused mentally,” Nabi said in his post-match media conference.
“This will be my biggest challenge, and for that I ask with a lot of respect for the fans to give me more space. I have a lot to do for this team.”
Nabi’s substitutions played a vital role in turning the fixture on its head and securing maximum points, and he was particularly pleased with the contributions of Vilakazi and Sirino and the general attitude of the team.
“In this coaching job you need to focus on the game and take the right decisions at the right moment. Sometimes you take the risk because I made a change after 75 minutes, but it’s normal. This job is tough for a coach.
“I am happy for my team and for Vilakazi, because he is like my son. I need to protect him.
“He’s not starting because I am trying to protect him. He has a lot of talent, and it is my job to protect the younger talent.
“If I compare this Chiefs to last season, the first change I saw was the winning attitude of the players. Before, if they missed the goals all the morale of the players went down.
“I like the attitude and I am happy with some players. I was happy with the performance of Sirino, and congratulations to the rest of the players.”
Nabi confirmed that there is a high possibility he will add another assistant to his technical team after Fernando da Cruz returned to Morocco.
The light at the end of the tunnel could shine even brighter, if they have a good outing against AmaZulu on Wednesday.
