Nasreddine Nabi starts the new Kaizer Chiefs League season against Gallants next weekend. Photo: BackpagePix
Smiso Msomi
Kaizer Chiefs’ new man in charge, Nasreddine Nabi, has attempted to curb expectations ahead of his debut campaign in South Africa.
The Tunisian-born tactician has been handed the mountainous responsibility of wrestling back the dominance over domestic football from Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates who have racked up millions in cup prize money in recent seasons.
Amakhosi have watched the Brazilians lift eight league titles, five domestic cups as well as three continental trophies (CAF Champions League, CAF Super Cup and African Football League) while they went through their near decade-long trophy drought.
Welcome back to the Kaizer Chiefs Family #Amakhosi4Life #AlwaysHome pic.twitter.com/PSgEe1vcBn
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) September 3, 2024
Chiefs have also been forced to clap for the Buccaneers the five times they’ve captured silverware in the form of major cups (two Nedbank Cup titles and three MTN8 trophies). The club has taken the unusual step this season of handing over the reins to an entirely new technical team to support Nabi, which the new coach picked.
This rare occurrence in South African football follows a trend that has been made famous in the biggest European leagues, with the likes of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp known to bring their own backroom staff to a new club.
Former Sundowns and Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane was the first to make it known in the country while his protégé Rulani Mokwena has followed suit after being appointed as the head coach of Moroccan club Wydad Athletic this season.
After a lengthy and turbulent pre-season, the time for Nabi to show his credentials is slowly approaching as the Betway Premiership kicks off in nine days.
The 59-year-old has suggested that lovers of the club have to recognise where the club is building from having finished in 10th place last season.
Welcome to the Kaizer Chiefs Family #Amakhosi4Life #AlwaysHome pic.twitter.com/aMT9RWXred
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) September 3, 2024
“I don’t have any magic to put Kaizer Chiefs where they were before, but what I’m coming to do this season is to do my best to bring Kaizer Chiefs up to where they were,” he said during Tuesday’s Betway Premiership launch.
“All coaches who are sitting here are not happy to see Kaizer Chiefs where they are, but also I cannot promise (success) right away, but I’ll do my best this season.
“My mission here is to bring Kaizer Chiefs back to where they were before and bring the DNA they had before and cause a big problem for all those coaches who are here, like Sundowns who have been winning.”
The club has supported the technical team in the transfer market and has said that it will continue to do so as it sets its sights on emulating the standards of Sundowns. The Naturena-based outfit has already signed six players, with Njabulo Blom being the only one on a one-year loan from Major League Soccer side St Louis City.
Chiefs are also said to still be chasing the signatures of Asanele Velebayi of Cape Town Spurs and potentially another striker, according to the coach.
The Glamour Boys will kick off their campaign with an away fixture against Marumo Gallants at the Free State Stadium on September 14.