Naseddrine Nabi has begun his tenure at Kaizer Chiefs with the weight of expectation on his shoulders. The Soweto giants are in desperate need of silverware to quench the thirst of the Amakhosi faithful. Nabi has been largely successful in his coaching career, and a former employer has some advice for the Motaung family on the Tunisian coach.
“What we did is, we gave him support. We hired top people for his technical team,” Hersi Ally Said, president of the current Tanzania Premier League champions, Young Africans, said.
Hersi Ally Said won the league and reached the CAF Confederation Cup with Nabi as head coach of Yanga. The successful spell in Tanzania was also down to the club’s recruitment, according to Ally Said.
“We signed top players for him. If Kaizer Chiefs can give him support and sign the right players then they will get good results with Nabi. He is a top coach,” Ally Said explained.
For their part, Kaizer Chiefs have not announced any top signings. The squad is currently in Turkey for a pre-season camp with coach Nabi.
“We have to give the coach a bit of time to assess and see what he needs. Also, there are processes to be followed and we will make those announcements in due course,” the Marketing Director of Kaizer Chiefs, Jessica Motuang told the media.
It is expected that Nabi will make final decisions on some players this week. A decision on veteran goalkeeper Ithumeleng Khune is also pending. Motaung says conversations are being held extensively on the former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper.
“Itu is family. He is like a brother to me. We are talking and we ask for patience, as we want to make sure we make the right announcement when we make it,” stressed Motaung.
While the club will engage in friendly matches while in Turkey, Chiefs’ fans will get a taste of Nabi ball on the 28th of July in Bloemfontein. Naseddrine Nabi’s former club Young Africans will play Kaizer Chiefs in the new Toyota Cup, and a packed stadium is a given.