What now for Kaizer Chiefs and Nasreddine Nabi?
Kaizer Chiefs were dismantled by Gavin Hunt’s SuperSport United last night. The result raises more question marks over Nabi’s future.
Things went from bad to worse for Kaizer Chiefs, conceding in the third minute after Samir Nurkovic nudged it in from close distance, Bradley Cross hopeless on the defensive line.
Before kick-off, life was beginning to feel rosier for the AmaKhosi faithful after seeing their side dismiss Chippa United 3-0 four days ago and Stellenbosch (1-0) the week before.
Kaizer Chiefs seemed ready for business coming up against a twelfth-place SuperSport United – but Matsatsantsa ran the boardroom.
They wanted it more, pinning the Glamour Boys back from the first minute.
A Makabi Lilepo 30th-minute header tied the game, but Gavin Hunt’s side answered two minutes later; Christian Saile, who left Kaizer Chiefs in January amid public ridicule, returned to haunt his former club.
At 2-1 down, there was a spike of Chiefs optimism early into the second half, but that soon unravelled after Gamphani Lungu scored the visitors third of the night – six minutes later, the Glamour Boys were down to ten men after Gaston Sirino saw red.
The game seemed dead and buried after the dismissal – Siphesihle Ndlovu made sure of it, scoring the statement goal in the 83rd minute to make the scoreline read 4-1, evoking further misery on an already jittery Chiefs fandom.
Nabi under fire?
It’s been one step forward, two steps back for Nasreddine Nabi, who found himself under intense scrutiny after the Golden Arrows defeat over a month ago; the result reportedly caused friction in Naturena, with some executives calling for the Tunisian coach to be sacked.
And, while Kaizer Chiefs ponder Nabi’s future, the former Young Africans boss is reportedly shortlisted for the Tunisian national team job – additional pressure and scrutiny in Soweto could prompt the 59-year-old to call it quits and return home if selected.
Leading one’s home nation into a major tournament is surely the pinnacle for every coach, it could soon be Nabi’s reality.
Should Kaizer Chiefs keep Nabi?
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