Ex-Kaizer Chiefs forward urges patience for struggling coach Nabi

Kaizer Chiefs/Facebook

Former Kaizer Chiefsand South Africa national team forward Katlego Mphela has indicated that AmaKhosi would make a mistake by sacking struggling coach Nasreddine Nabi.

The Tunisian manager has struggled to grind out results in the Betway Premiership since joining Chiefs from FAR Rabat last year, a situation that has left the club’s following furious.

Chiefs’ top-8 chances look extremely bleak as they sit 9th on the league table with 30 points from 25 matches played this season. Their only hope of a silverware this term is the chance to lift the Nedbank Cup where they will face Orlando Pirates in the finals on Saturday, May 10 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

On a brighter note, reaching the Nedbank Cup final has qualified Chiefs for next season's CAF Confederation Cup. Mphela, 40, who spent a season at Chiefs, believes it would be a wrong move to sack the Tunisian tactician because Chiefs are not playing badly despite recent results:

"Looking at the way the team started, there was some positivity. There have been injuries to some of the players who started the season very well, like Mdu Shabalala and Ashley Du Preez, and some suspicions as well which affected the team," Mphela told Soccer Laduma.

"But as for the coach, I think he is on course to change things, and he should be given more time. Let him finish his contract and see what he can do. It won't be right to change coaches now as the team is not playing badly. It's just that small thing that needs to be done and start winning. Finishing is the only missing thing now. So Nabi should be given more time."

"I don't think changing the coaches will help things. Look at what happened with the other coaches. Let's give him the chance because now he understands the team, the league, and the players as well. If we change now, a new coach will start from scratch again, and it may take another long time. So Nabi must stay for now," he added.

Chiefs top-eight finish dream was dealt a further blow when they lost 2-1 to Marumo Gallants at home, and this marked their 11th loss of the season. It also stretched Amakhosi's run without a win to six games in the league.