Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi, who had only joined the club at the start of the season with high expectations, has already found himself under scrutiny after a challenging campaign.
Following a 2-1 loss to Orlando Pirates in Saturday’s Soweto Derby in league action, questions have been raised about Nabi's future, but insiders suggest the club’s management remains firmly behind him.
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Sources close to Amakhosi have indicated that despite underwhelming league results in this campaign, Chiefs are standing by Nabi and have assured him of their support, even ahead of Saturday’s Nedbank Cup final against Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
This is despite recent reports which stated that Nabi has to win the Nedbank Cup to keep his job, or how Soccer Laduma reported how the Tunisian needed to beat Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-final for him to stay on.
To his credit, Nabi did beat the Brazilians in the semis, and the Siya crew had also reported how there are different opinions, naturally, at Naturena with regard to the amount of pressure Nabi should be in for the short term.
Now, insiders have underlined how management is on the same page for Nabi's future.
"I don't think we can say Nabi is feeling the heat but obviously the pressure is there. You know he came highly recommended and the results have not really been good and that's what puts pressure on him. But we can't say he is feeling the heat, because management is supporting him. I think that's what helps the whole situation at the moment. It's tough for him but he has the right support," the insider told Soccer Laduma.
A second insider stated that Nabi has been assured he will remain in charge next season, highlighting the club’s faith in his long-term vision.
"I think if he was feeling the heat then management would not be assuring him that he will be here next season. So, it's apparently believed that management is with him in this journey and they believe that things will improve. So from the management's point of view I can't say he is feeling the heat. Maybe from the supporters and the media but not from the club," the second source revealed.
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Since joining Amakhosi at the start of the season, Nabi's has been inconsistent. Chiefs are currently ninth on the league table and have a lot of work to do as finishing in the MTN8 places is no longer in their own hands.
However, on a positive note, Nabi has guided the team to the Nedbank Cup final, offering a potential opportunity for redemption against Pirates this Saturday. A victory in the final would not only be a significant achievement in ending their decade-old trophy drought but could also help justify the faith that Chiefs’ management has placed in him.
Soccer Laduma reached out to Kaizer Chiefs for comment, but no response was received at the time of publishing.
