The stage is set for two giants of the game as Kaizer Chiefs brace themselves for a high-stakes Nedbank Cup semi-final clash against the formidable Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Stadium this weekend.
Ahead of the crunch encounter, there is uncertainty surrounding the fitness of two key players, defender Inacio Miguel and midfielder Thabo Cele, leaving coach Nasreddine Nabi with a strategic headache.
The injury concerns have mounted in recent weeks. Cele picked up a knock during Chiefs’ league defeat to Golden Arrows, forcing his early substitution and ruling him out of the subsequent draw against TS Galaxy. Similarly, Miguel succumbed to injury during the Galaxy match, with his departure coinciding with Galaxy’s equalizing goal.
Read: “I won’t stay where I’m not wanted” – Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi
During his pre-match press conference, Nabi offered a cryptic response regarding the fitness of the duo, stating, “I will answer about Cele and Miguel, but not now,” a tactic that keeps Sundowns guessing but undoubtedly leaves Chiefs supporters on edge.
Despite the looming pressure and the weight of history, Nabi attempted to downplay the immediate consequences of a potential loss, emphasizing his long-term vision for the club: “You say there is a pressure when we lose this game, there is not pressure,” he said.
“Each game that we play there is pressure inside. But for me I’m coming, like I said before and I will repeat again, there is a process. The first year [of the two] for the process, we are here to build a team.
However, Nabi also acknowledged the significance of the Nedbank Cup and the desire to deliver silverware for the club’s loyal fanbase and the board: “But when we try to build our team, when we get an opportunity like this one [to win a cup] in the semi final, we’ll try to win this trophy, we will try to play [and win] because it’s for the fans and for the board.
“This is not a dream, we always play to win a trophy because we’re in a big team, Kaizer Chiefs.
“Every season in every competition you play, you must win competitions. But like I said, there’s no pressure; we’re here under our process.
“I think when we discussed [the situation] with the board, we said we’re in a process for two or three years to build our team.
“But after three years, then we can build our team that can compete in the [CAF] Champions League, for the league, and for the other trophies. But we are under the process like I have said to you.
“If we get the opportunity to win this trophy and we win this trophy, it will be amazing for us. It will give us more confidence to play for the board, for the fans, for the players, for us also as a technical staff.
“But if we don’t win this trophy, we have to continue to work.”
The psychological battle is already underway. Sundowns have a clear upper hand, having defeated Chiefs three times this season already. Nabi’s guarded updates on his injured players add another layer of intrigue to this semi-final clash.
Indeed, the Nedbank Cup represents Amakhosi’s last chance to break a near decade-long trophy drought. Their last major title was the 2015 league championship, and their most recent Nedbank Cup triumph was in 2013. Kick off in Pretoria is set for 18h00 on Sunday, 13 April 2025.