Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi labeled his team’s crushing 4-1 defeat to SuperSport United in the Betway Premiership at FNB Stadium on Wednesday as “an accident” in the course of a long debut season for the Tunisian mentor.
The loss, which saw Amakhosi demolished by ex-Chiefs boss Gavin Hunt, featured two goals in each half, with SuperSport completing a league double over Chiefs for the first time since the 2011/12 season.
The goals came from former Chiefs players Samir Nurkovic and Cristian Saile, both of whom scored in the first half and chose not to celebrate against their former club.
Zambian winger Gamphani Lungu and Siphesihle Ndlovu, the Man of the Match, added two more in the second half to seal a dominant win for SuperSport United. The result marked Hunt’s side’s fifth victory of the season and continued their strong form against Chiefs.
Read: Samir Nurkovic and Christian Saile demolish 10-Man Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium
In his post-match interview, Nabi spoke candidly about the painful result, admitting that the defeat stung, not just for the fans but for him as well. “It is true that today’s result hurts them, and I am also the first person that it hurts,” Nabi said, acknowledging the disappointment that comes with such a heavy loss.
However, the Chiefs coach was quick to defend the team and urge fans not to judge the entire squad based on one poor performance. “This is not a game that they [Kaizer Chiefs fans] should use to judge their team or at least the potential of the team,” Nabi explained, emphasizing that setbacks are part of any season.
Reflecting on the nature of the defeat, Nabi noted, “This kind of accident happens in all championships.” He described the game as an unfortunate one-off, acknowledging that the circumstances of the match were not entirely within the team’s control.
Chiefs were forced to play with a man down in the second half after Gaston Sirino was sent off following a second yellow card.
Nabi, while accepting responsibility for the defeat, also expressed understanding for his players. “As I said, I cannot always give excuses, but I am very understanding when it comes to my players,” he said.
“Today, I understood that they gave their best in the previous games and they were tired.” He cited fatigue as a factor, as Chiefs had been under pressure in recent weeks and may have struggled to recover physically and mentally.
Looking ahead, Kaizer Chiefs will now turn their attention to their next match, where they will face PSL powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns, as a result of their scheduled clash with Royal AM being postponed. Kick off in Pretoria is set for 15:30 on Saturday, 1 March 2025.