It’s the kind of news that football fans hate to hear: Kaizer Chiefs have parted ways with their head coach, Nasreddine Nabi.
While the Soweto club hasn’t officially announced the decision, reports and insider chatter have made it almost impossible to ignore.
Nabi Cites Family Matters as Main Reason for Exit
Speaking to North African publication WinWin, Nabi revealed that his departure is largely tied to personal family concerns.
His wife recently suffered an accident, and he wants to be by her side during her recovery.
“My separation from Kaizer Chiefs was a mutual agreement with the club’s management, following a successful and challenging experience.
Currently, I need some time to rest, focus more on my family, and monitor my wife’s health, which has required me to be by her side over the past period,” Nabi explained.
He also acknowledged that other clubs in Africa and the Arab world have expressed interest in his services, but for now, he is prioritizing a temporary break to recharge.
Conflicting Reports on Nabi’s Departure
Not everyone agrees on the reason behind Nabi’s exit. Award-winning journalist Mazola Molefe suggested that Chiefs may have “sacked” him, possibly over a contract breach linked to his CAF coaching qualifications.
Reports indicated that tensions between Nabi and the club had begun earlier, especially after the team failed to qualify for the MTN8 tournament.
“It is believed that already at the time of their failure to qualify for the MTN8, the trust between the two parties was broken and the relationship not where it had been early on into his tenure,” a report on SABC noted.
The controversy over his coaching license appeared to further complicate matters, with speculation that it played a major role in the split.
CAF License Concerns Stir Debate
Top journalist Micky Jnr reported that Chiefs management had questioned whether Nabi held a valid CAF license to sit on the bench during Confederation Cup matches.
Even after Nabi reportedly provided proof of his qualifications, the club seemed determined to move in a different direction.
Chiefs Look Ahead Without Nabi
Kaizer Chiefs will soon face Girabola side Kabuscorp S.C.P in the CAF Confederation Cup first-round preliminary qualifier.
Nabi’s exit is said to be effective immediately, leaving the team to prepare for their upcoming fixtures without their former coach.
The club is expected to release an official statement in the coming days, but for now, fans are left to digest the sudden news and wonder who will take the reins at the Soweto giants next.