Coach Nasreddine Nabi has had a rollercoaster first season in charge of Kaizer Chiefs.
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While the viral video of Bobby Motaung saying he wants Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi to stay is primarily based on the impending backroom changes at Orlando Pirates, it may not be such a bad idea for Amakhosi to have some continuity for a change.
Pirates coach Jose Riveiro, is leaving at the end of the season after a trophy-laden spell in charge of the Bucs.
Now, with Pirates having to reset after Riveiro’s tenure, Motaung is hoping that continuity may be the best course of action for Kaizer Chiefs, citing their own past experiences following Stuart Baxter’s departure after winning the league title in the 2015/15 season.
“You see the Pirates coach is leaving next season, they have to start from fresh, we are not changing anything next season,” Motaung is seen saying in the video.
“You see if that coach … remember Stuart Baxter did us like this, he gave us three seasons and when he saw his profile was right what did he do?
“That's how it is, this thing needs balls.”
Nabi is the 11th man to lead Chiefs since Baxter’s title-winning campaign, which is also the last time the Soweto giants managed to win major silverware.
Steve Komphela replaced Baxter in 2015 and lasted 112 matches in all competitions before being shown the door.
Former club captain Patrick Mabedi took over as an interim coach, before Italian Giovanni Solinas was fired after only six months in the 2018/19 season.
Ernst Middendorp came close to winning the league in the 2019/20 season, but a Covid-19 enforced break mid-season seemed to derail their campaign and they ended up losing the title to Mamelodi Sundowns following a 1-1 draw against Baroka FC on the last day of the season.
Four-time Premiership winner Gavin Hunt also didn’t complete a full season despite taking the team all the way to the CAF Champions League sem-finals. He was replaced by Arthur Zwane following 12 wins, 17 draws, and 15 defeats in his 44 matches in charge of the team.
Zwane made way for Baxter’s return in the 2021/22 season, but was fired after just 25 matches following 11 wins, six draws and nine defeats.
Club legend Zwane finally got his day in the season at the start of the following the campaign, but was also sacked the team finished 11th in the league during the 2022/23 campaign.
Molefi Ntseki was an unpopular appointment for the 2023/24 season and was shown the door at the end of October after being attacked by the Chiefs supporters on numerous occasions.
Cavin Johnson took over from Ntseki on an interim basis before Nabi was appointed.
It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster campaign for the Tunisian tactician, with Chiefs currently sitting in eighth position on the Betway Premiership standings, with eight wins, six draws and 10 defeats from his first 24 league matches in charge.
It’s been an inconsistent campaign, but there comes a point where Chiefs need to deal with the growing pains of a rebuild. Another new coach is not the answer if the last decade is anything to go by.
Nabi’s team have shown glimpses of what they can do, but they have mixed some sparking football with many draft moments. But that is normally the hallmark of many young teams.
Nabi is an excellent coach with a proven track record, but Chiefs’ shortcomings run deep and are not going to be rectified in a single campaign.
Continuity is the first step in a rebuild. It’s time for Chiefs and their supporters to show a little faith. Rome and a Premiership-winning team are not built in a day.
@JohnGoliath82