Kaizer Chiefs’ head coach Nasreddine Nabi was back on the bench on Wednesday night after missing the start of the season to be with his wife in Tunisia, following her serious accident earlier this month.
His absence had seen assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef step in and guide the team to three straight victories.
But in Nabi’s long-awaited return, the Glamour Boys had to settle for a frustrating 0-0 draw against rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.
A Frustrating Stalemate
Speaking to SuperSport after the match, Nabi admitted that the result left him disappointed.
“It’s frustrating because we really believed we could have taken all three points,” he said.
“At the same time, we have to acknowledge that we faced a very strong opponent.
There’s a little bit of regret, but we’ll keep working and look forward to the future.”
First Half Struggles
The coach explained that the team didn’t start as strongly as they would have liked.
In fact, he admitted that part of the strategy was to allow Sundowns more of the ball in the opening stages.
“In the first half, we struggled a bit, but we also wanted them to have possession,” Nabi explained.
“We knew they weren’t likely to finish the game strongly.”
Tactical Shifts in the Second Half
Things improved after halftime. Nabi revealed that some tweaks in the midfield setup allowed Chiefs to press higher up the pitch and take control.
“With the adjustments, we were able to be more aggressive and stay on the front foot,” he said.
“We created some opportunities, but unfortunately, we didn’t convert them.”
Still Unbeaten, But Hungry for More
Despite the disappointment of dropping points, Nabi reminded fans that the team is still unbeaten this season.
“We haven’t lost yet, and that’s important,” he said. “But we know we could have gotten more out of this game.
What’s clear is that we’re moving in the right direction, and we’ll work harder to be even better in the next match.”
Can Chiefs Go All the Way?
The big question now is whether Kaizer Chiefs can turn their unbeaten run into a serious title challenge.
Supporters will be watching closely to see if Nabi can build on the strong foundation his side has laid down.
