With question marks on whether Nasreddine Nabi should continue at Kaizer Chiefs, Soccer Laduma highlights five positives under the Tunisian.
1. Comebackability
Before Nabi's arrival, Chiefs struggled to win or rescue points from behind.
However, this season Amakhosi have shown fighting spirit when the chips were down, notably beating Mamelodi Sundowns from behind in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals.
The Glamour Boys also rescued points against Magesi, coming from two goals down, won against Stellenbosch after going a goal down, scored late to draw with TS Galaxy, among other fightbacks.
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2. Rise to the occasion
Even though Chiefs entered most, if not all big games this season as underdogs, they were able to punch above their weight, losing narrowly, through a last-minute penalty in the first league derby against Orlando Pirates.
The second loss to the Buccaneers in the Premiership was also narrow while they redeemed themselves against their arch-rivals in the Nedbank Cup final.
Amakhosi also lost narrowly to Mamelodi Sundowns in two league matches that could've gone either way or being drawn.
3. Creating chances
The difference between Amakhosi competing at least for the top three positions and ultimately fighting for a top eight spot could have been the conversion or lack thereof chances they created.
In so far as statistics as concerned, Amakhosi have been consistently in the top three of the most chances created throughout the season but their finishing let them down dearly.
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4. Youngsters raising hand
To integrate youngsters into the senior team without a structure or solid foundation is costly, as Nabi would attest.
But there is a big hope with youngsters such as Wandile Duba and Mduduzi Shabalala coming of age and out of their shell.
5. A trophy, finally
Numbers don't lie and titles don't lie too.
Nobody would remember what was the quality of football that Chiefs played to win the Nedbank Cup.
For Nabi to deliver the first title for Amakhosi in a decade should count a lot, especially in his first season.
Former coaches Steve Komphela, who had nearly three years, Ernst Middendorp, one-and-half a season in his second spell, Stuart Baxter in his second spell, Giovanni Solinas, Gavin Hunt, Arthur Zwane, Molefi Ntseki, all could not deliver a trophy combined.
