Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has acknowledged that his team found it difficult to break down Magesi FC in their narrow 1-0 victory, despite the latter sitting second from the bottom in the league standings.
The Soweto Giants had been expected to dominate the match, but the game proved more challenging than anticipated.
The match at FNB Stadium on Tuesday saw Chiefs toil for much of the 90 minutes before finally finding the breakthrough in the 69th minute, after substitute Ashley Du Preez showed composure and found the back of the net from close-range following a cross from Makabi Lilepo.
Despite the hard-fought nature of the win, Nabi remained positive, attributing the team’s sluggish start to the changes he had made to the starting lineup.
Read: Kaizer Chiefs Edge Magesi FC to Return to Winning Ways
Nabi was quick to point out that while the match was a struggle, Magesi’s strong performances against top teams this season—most notably their surprising victories over Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns in the Carling knockout made the challenge predictable.
Despite that, the former FAR Rabat coach was relieved to see his side get the job done.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult game. Magesi are always difficult against big teams,” Nabi said in his post-match interview with SuperSport TV.
He continued: “We saw it in the Carling against [Orlando] Pirates and we knew it was gonna be a difficult game.
“And even for ourselves, the fact of having a lot of changes, the first line-up we struggled a little bit in the first half to get on the front foot, to get going but we were better in the second half.”
Nabi also emphasized the importance of securing the three points, stating: “In this kind of game what you need is three points and to get going.”
Despite the hard-fought victory, Chiefs’ position in the league table remained unchanged, with the club still sitting in eighth place, six points above Chippa United (who do have two games in hand).
Following back to back league defeats, the much needed three points brings their season tally to 28 points from 20 matches, while Magesi remain in the relegation play-off position, one point behind Richards Bay.
Looking ahead, Nabi and his players now turn their attention to the Nedbank Cup quarter-final, where they will face Stellenbosch FC this weekend. Kick off at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is set for 18h00 on Saturday, 08 March.