Kaizer Chiefs’ brief working relationship with strength and conditioning expert Firas Zghal has officially come to an end following the team’s return from their pre-season tour of the Netherlands last week.
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Zghal, a France-based professor and sports scientist, was roped in on a temporary basis to oversee the squad’s physical preparations in Europe, stepping in for Majdi Safi, who remained in South Africa due to travel complications.
Safi, who continues to train the group of players that didn’t make the trip, was reportedly in talks with Wydad Athletic, though he remains under contract with Amakhosi. In his absence, Zghal, who shares a long-standing professional relationship with head coach Nasreddine Nabi, answered the call.
The 42-year-old Tunisian is a seasoned figure in both academic and professional football spaces. A former striker for Stade Gabèsien and CS Msaken, he is currently an associate professor at the University of Paris-Saclay and the author of over 30 research papers in the field of exercise and performance science.
Zghal and Nabi first worked together over a decade ago at Al Ahly Tripoli in Libya, and their reunion in Europe helped smooth the club’s pre-season transition as they played five friendlies during their time abroad.
However, his short-term arrangement was always intended to conclude at the end of the camp, with Safi set to resume duties upon the team’s return to Johannesburg.
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