HERMAN GIBBS
All eyes will be on Kaizer Chiefs when they run out against Tanzanian heavyweights Young Africans SC in the inaugural Toyota Cup on Sunday at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
It will be the first opportunity for new Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi to give some substance to the promise he made to AmaKhosi fans. He said: “I want to give you pleasure in football, this is my dream.”
It is a wonderful promise from the Tunisian-born Nabi after the long-suffering Chiefs fans have experienced many seasons of heartbreak in nine years without a trophy.
Nabi’s debut as Chiefs’ mentor will also reveal if there is any truth to what sporting director Kaizer Motaung jr said about the appointment.
“We believe we have found the right man to fulfil our vision of restoring Amakhosi to our rightful place at the top of the football pyramid. We welcome coach Nabi and his technical team with the pledge of unity and support in pursuit of our common goal,” said Motaung.
Chiefs have been to Austria for a pre-season camp and during that time they played friendlies, two of which were behind closed doors. Fans have not been too happy with Chiefs because they have shut down the flow of information from the camp.
Amakhosi’s next opponents are coached by Argentinian Miguel Gamondi, the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Platinum Stars coach. The well-travelled Gamondi has worked with several African clubs and knows what to expect from a Nabi-coached team.
His side had a run against the touring Bundesliga side Augsburg on Sunday, and Chiefs will be their next opponents. They have a week to prepare, and Gamondi will be looking for an improvement after their 2-1 defeat.
“For sure, we have one week more to work,” said Gamondi.
“We want to be a little bit more fit and more tactically working, but not 100% like we were (at the end of last season). I think Chiefs will be in the same position.”
Gamondi is hoping for a crowd-pleasing spectacle against AmaKhosi.
“Football for me as a coach, football is a show. We need to play football, we need to play attacking,” said Gamondi.
“For me, it would’ve probably been easier to play five defenders, park the bus and see what happens (against Augsburg). But it’s not my style and I think with Chiefs it will be a nice game as well because we will play attractive football.”
Word is out that Chiefs will release their kit for the new season on Thursday. Last season, Chiefs changed their apparel sponsor to Kappa, after a long relationship with Nike.