Kaizer Chiefs coach Nabi’s ‘axing’ echoes PSL clubs’ dirty tricks of yesteryear

Comment by Herman Gibbs

Last week, a report by a seasoned journalist was highlighted with a banner headline ‘Chiefs to axe Nabi’.

The ‘axing’ would not have been something unexpected because under Tunisian Nasreddine Nabi's stewardship, Chiefs have struggled to find their footing.

Their performances fell well short of expectations.

Despite Nabi‘s recent success in guiding the team to the Nedbank Cup championship, it appears that this may not be enough to stave off the axe.

The triumph in the cup competition, while momentarily boosting spirits, has not masked their dismal league form, which places the team in jeopardy of missing out on a coveted top-eight finish.

The unconfirmed ‘Chiefs to axe Nabi’ report was written before the outcome of the Nedbank Cup final was known, and that suggests that, according to the journalist's sources, the decision had already been taken.

Why would a reputable journalist risk his reputation with an unconfirmed report that would later explode in his face and discredit a national newspaper?

The essence of journalism is rooted in trust.

Readers rely on the integrity of the reporters and the organisations behind them to deliver information in an ever-evolving news cycle.

The information would have leaked to the reporter by the club or persons with strong ties to the club, to soften the blow when the ‘sacking’ announcement followed later.

During a television interview this week, it was clear that Nabi had a sense that his days were numbered.

This sense has already spread elsewhere on the continent, and offers for Nabi’s services have been a media topic for the past two days.

The leaking of Nabi’s sacking is much like a dirty trick used by many PSL clubs down the years when they wanted to fire a coach, without having the decency to do so through proper means.

Also, firing coaches before their contracts end would mean paying hefty compensation.

Instead, clubs would publicly say “we cannot guarantee protection for the coach”, and once the mentor felt unsafe in the club environment, he would resign of his own free will, and it was mission accomplished for the club.

Chiefs have a passionate fan base known for its unwavering dedication.

However, this passion sometimes borders on volatility in the wake of disappointing performances.

Historically, the supporters have not shied away from expressing their discontent, resorting to throwing missiles onto the pitch during matches and making their frustrations clear across various media platforms.

Earlier seasons witnessed notable incidents where coaches were directly targeted; Steve Komphela, Molefi Ntseki and Cavin Johnson each experienced the wrath of disgruntled fans when the team strayed from victory.

Goodness knows what will happen in the next two weeks while Nabi is still at the helm and the team loses out on a top-eighth berth.