Crisis at Kaizer Chiefs: on the road to nowhere under Nasreddine Nabi

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Kaizer Chiefs' 10th league defeat of the season has ignited a firestorm of frustration among Amakhosi supporters, who are now calling for the immediate dismissal of head coach Nasreddine Nabi.

On Saturday, Chiefs’ turbulent season took another turn for the worse as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Lamontville Golden Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium. This loss followed a dismal 2-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Richards Bay in their previous Betway Premiership match.

With this latest setback, Chiefs find themselves languishing in eighth place in the Betway Premiership standings — a precarious position with only seven matches remaining. As their rivals close in, the possibility of finishing outside the top eight looms large, an unthinkable scenario for a club of Chiefs’ stature.

Under Nabi’s stewardship, the team has played 23 league matches, managing only eight victories. This poor record has fuelled growing calls for the club’s management to reconsider his role at the helm of the once-dominant club.

Whether the management will respond to mounting pressure remains to be seen. However, if they decide to part ways with Nabi, they must also take responsibility for the process of appointing his successor.

After all, this is the same management that selected Nabi and must be held accountable for what many now consider a failed appointment. Furthermore, this is the leadership that has overseen nine consecutive trophyless seasons, leaving fans increasingly disillusioned.

For years, various stakeholders have urged club owner Kaizer Motaung to adopt a more professional approach to the club’s administration, rather than continuing to appoint family members to key positions. However, Motaung has remained resolute in his decisions, showing little willingness to change — a reality that passionate Amakhosi supporters have had to endure.

As the pressure mounts and the likelihood of another trophyless season grows, the management’s next move will be closely scrutinised.

Perhaps Chiefs could take inspiration from clubs such as SuperSport United and Cape Town City, both of whom recently dismissed highly experienced coaches — Gavin Hunt and Muhsin Ertugral, respectively — following a sharp decline in results. Their decisions to make managerial changes reflect a growing trend among football clubs that refuse to accept mediocrity and are willing to take bold action to rejuvenate their teams.

With Chiefs teetering on the brink of another disappointing campaign, the question remains: will the club’s leadership finally take decisive action, or will they continue down the path of stagnation?

* Herman Gibbs is a senior sports writer