Despite a position well below expectations in the league standings, Kaizer Chiefs management continues to back their coach ahead of a crucial cup final, and now insiders reveal the factors that have earned him a longer stay than many expected.
The decision-makers at the club apparently see beyond the disappointing league form, with multiple behind-the-scenes reasons explaining their continued patience with the man in the dugout, Nasreddine Nabi.
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Amakhosi had struggled with inconsistent results this season which despite reaching the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates, which will be played on Saturday at Moses Mabhida Stadium, they are in position nine in the Betway Premiership log which had put coach Nabi under pressure.
However despite the poor run in the league the team is believed to be behind coach Nabi because they understand why Chiefs have been struggling in his first season in charge.
Insiders close to the club have indicated that injuries and suspensions to key players are believed to have been the main contribution to the poor run and that's why management is lenient on the coach so far.
"The club understands the coach's process of building the team and that's why they've been supporting him even with the inconsistencies in the results, mainly in the league. They saw how the team started before injuries affected them. Both the technical team and management believe that it's the injuries, mainly in defence which led to the inconsistencies. If you look at it almost all the defenders have been injured at one time or the other and that's what everyone believes killed the team. Right now Inacio Miguel is just coming back from injury. Dillan Solomons and Happy Mashiane were out injured. Now Reeve Frosler, Ashwin Dortley and Given Msimango are all out injured. The coach has not had the same team in three consecutive games this season. That's caused inconsistencies. And it has not only been defenders. Ashley Du Preez, Mduduzi Shabalala and even Wandile Duba were all at one time or the other injured. So it's hard to blame the coach for the results if you have such injuries in the team. That's why management is lenient on coach Nabi," the source told Soccer Laduma.
A second insider stated that as for the loss to Orlando Pirates in the Soweto Derby on Saturday, they believe they could have won that PSL game if it was not for the two mistakes made by midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala.
"If you look at the game, Chiefs were in charge and Pirates only scored from those two mistakes by Mdu Shabalala. It was unfortunate but that's what killed the team. We hope he has learnt from that as he is still young, both as a player and as a person. But they are believed to feel that those mistakes cost the team," the second source stated.
Chiefs take on Pirates again on Saturday in the Nedbank Cup final at Moses Mabhida Stadium, a game in which they may still miss a number of players due to injury.
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Soccer Laduma contacted Chiefs for comment on the issue but there was no response at the time of publishing.
As Amakhosi prepare for a potential season-defining cup final against their arch-rivals, the management's backing of Nabi represents a significant vote of confidence in his long-term vision. This behind-the-scenes support suggests the club is willing to exercise patience through this transitional period, recognising the extraordinary circumstances that have hampered the coach's first season.
However, a victory in Saturday's showpiece event would not only deliver silverware but potentially silence doubters and validate the faith shown in the technical team. The question remains whether Chiefs can overcome their injury crisis to triumph at Moses Mabhida Stadium, a result that would dramatically alter perceptions of what has been a challenging campaign.
