Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has explained his comment regarding the ‘lack of quality players’ at Kaizer Chiefs last season noting that he may have been misunderstood.
Amakhosi experienced a tough 2024/25 campaign succumbing to 12 defeats, playing eight draws and winning eight matches thus finishing ninth on the Betway Premiership standings. Nabi lamented lack of quality in his squad as key to not getting the positive results.
In the current transfer window, Chiefs made six new signings while also parting ways with captain Yusuf Maart who joined Austrian side SV Ried and seven other players.
The Tunisian coach feels that his utterances were taken out of context and that he never doubted the quality of the players that he found when he joined the club, but he needed players that fits certain profiles in order to adapt to his playing style.
“What I said last season maybe was a little bit misunderstood. I wanted to emphasize that I was looking for [player] profiles that can fit in my model game but not that I didn’t have good players. Said Nabi on Tuesday during the official launch of the Betway Premiership 2025/25 season.
Chiefs were linked with several high-profile players including Fiston Mayele, Feisal Salum, Sphephelo Sithole and Oswin Appollis to name a few but have not manage to rope in any of the mentioned players. Appollis was snapped by rivals Orlando Pirates, Mayele is linked with a move to the Gulf while there is still no concrete news on Salum and Sithole.
Nabi feels that management made significant strides in strengthening the squad, but their qualities will be seen as the season progresses. Glody Lilepo and Thabo Cele who were signed during the January transfer window have been an integral part of Nabi’s set up while Tashreeq Morris has struggled for game time.
“We are heading into the new season with new players. The management has tried their best to get players and we give them time and we will see in the future if we have made good decisions depending on how they fit in the team and in the model game,” he continued.
Chiefs are set to kickstart their new campaign this Sunday against Stellenbosch FC in Cape Town. Nabi is confident that the team is ready for the challenging season ahead and that the preseason camp in the Netherlands and several friendlies that they have played has sharpened them.
He acknowledged that the match against Stellies will not be easy but his troops are ready to the tough task ahead.
“We are very grateful to management that have allowed us to have a wonderful preseason. It’s been in three steps. The first two weeks in Naturena to put the players back in conditions. The second step in Netherlands with the fitness work and with a lot of friendly games.
“Now it’s the last step and going forward to this game against Stellenbosch, we have to adjust the last combinations as you said, cross the T’s and the I’s and be ready for this big game because we know Stellenbosch is not going to be an easy opponent but we are excited and we go with confidence to get a positive result this coming Sunday,” he concluded.