In his debut on South African soil as the head coach of Kaizer Chiefs, Nasreddine Nabi faced a challenging start, with his team suffering a 4-0 defeat against his former club, Yanga SC.
This result has already sparked discussions about the Tunisian-born coach's ability to adapt and succeed at Naturena, despite his previous success in Tanzania.
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Though, former Chiefs defender Thabang Rooi has voiced support for Nabi, urging patience and optimism. In an exclusive interview with Soccer Laduma, Rooi, a Sharpville-born legend, emphasized the importance of giving Nabi time to implement his strategies and build the team.
"Of course, no one wants to see their team lose a game. But we have to look beyond the result on Sunday against Yanga and see what the coach is building. It's still too early to doubt his ability and lose patience. Let's give him time for him to work with the team properly. Yes, he was with the team in Turkey but that was pre-season and the Yanga game was the first one to see the team in a tough game situation. So, you can't judge him based on that one only. We have to be patient with him at this point," Rooi told the Siya crew.
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Rooi also highlighted the need for the club's management to support Nabi by enhancing the squad with more experienced players to complement the younger talent.
"From where I'm seeing things, he doesn't have depth in his team. It's only young players and a few experienced players. They need to sign more experienced players to balance the team and if they can do that then he can do his job properly and the team can improve. But they need experienced players before the season starts. And some players from last season need to improve," Rooi concluded.
This perspective underscores the transitional phase that Chiefs are currently undergoing under Nabi's leadership. As the team prepares for the upcoming season, the integration of experienced players and the development of existing squad members will be crucial for achieving the desired results and fulfilling the club's ambitions.
