Kaizer Chiefs appointed Nasreddine Nabi as their head coach in July 2024, just a few days after he concluded his tenure with Moroccan side AS FAR.
The Tunisian tactician was always in Amakhosi’s radar even in 2023, but the Soweto giants opted not to sign the ex-Yanga coach. Instead, Chiefs promoted Molefi Ntseki as head coach; however, his tenure only lasted just under four months before he was given the boot.
Cavin Johnson took over thereafter, but Amakhosi‘s struggles continued throughout the 2023/24 season, where they failed to finish in the top 8.
Changes were made during pre-season, and Nabi was finally named Kaizer Chiefs head coach. A lot was expected from the man who won back-to-back league titles in Tanzania, but unfortunately for the club, the Glamour Boys did not improve much. The only silver lining was the Nedbank Cup triumph.
Here are the five reasons why Nasreddine Nabi failed at Kaizer Chiefs
Poor signings
In his first season, Nabi signed 10 players but most of them did not have a great first season. The only signings to have shown quality are Gaston Sirino, Rushwin Dortley and Thabo Cele. This season, the club is faced with a similar issue.
Paseka Mako, Siphesihle Ndlovu, Flavio Silva and Ethan Chislett do not look like players who will change the club’s fortunes.
Lack of leadership
With Yusuf Maart gone, the captain’s armband has fallen to Miguel Inacio. The Angolan has not looked convincing at the back since joining Amakhosi last year. Brandon Petersen had shown leadership at times but the squad lacks experience and leadership on and off the bench.
His short tenure with previous teams
Nasreddine Nabi has a decent record as a coach, but he has a tendency to leave before his contract ends. In the past 15 years, the Tunisian tactician has never spent more than two years with one club. Before hiring Nabi, Chiefs should have looked at this factor. He was never going to stay at Naturena for three years.
Lack of local assistant
Nabi’s technical team are all foreigners and lacks a broad knowledge not in South African football but also of how to handle local players.
If they had a South African assistant, it would have been easier not only for the technical team but also for the players. A local coach is easier to relate to and can convey Nabi’s message clearly.
No mandate
The 60-year-old was not given a clear mandate by Chiefs. Although he won the Nedbank Cup in his first season, he failed in the league. If his contract stipulated that he only needed to win a trophy in his first season, then Nabi succeeded.
However, if his mandate was to finish in the top 5 and win a trophy, then he failed to achieve his mandate. The club did not give him a mandate, and with things going south, a decision was made just seven games into the new season.