Nabi’s milestone at Kaizer Chiefs should afford him at least another transfer window

It took nine long years, a revolving door of coaches, and enough false dawns to drain even the most loyal supporter’s hope — but Kaizer Chiefs are finally celebrating silverware again.

And that seismic shift in Naturena’s fortunes has Nasreddine Nabi’s fingerprints all over it.

The Tunisian mentor arrived under a cloud of scepticism, taking the reins at a club battered by inconsistency and weighed down by history. Yet, in less than a season, Nabi has succeeded where so many others failed: he’s made Amakhosi winners again.

His reward?

At the very least, another transfer window to continue the rebuild he’s only just begun.

This season has been anything but smooth for Chiefs. In the Betway Premiership, they are in danger of missing out on a Top 8 finish for the second consecutive year. Last season’s 10th-place finish was already their worst in PSL history, and with two matches remaining — against Sekhukhune United and Polokwane City — they sit ninth, tied on 30 points with eighth-placed Chippa United after 26 games.

And yet, amid all the pressure and uncertainty, Nabi delivered a statement cup run.

It wasn’t a favourable draw. Chiefs had to get past Stellenbosch FC — one of the form teams in the country — in the quarter-finals. Then came Mamelodi Sundowns, the undisputed giants of local football, in the semi-finals. And finally, arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in the final.

Chiefs didn’t fluke their way to glory — they earned it the hard way.

Tactically, Nabi was astute. He neutralised Stellies’ high press, frustrated Sundowns with a compact midfield, and outmanoeuvred Pirates in a tightly contested Soweto Derby. That run alone is a testament to his coaching pedigree.

But perhaps more impressive is the transformation in attitude and belief. Chiefs didn’t just play better — they looked like a team with identity and direction. That’s a credit to the coach.

Still, history has not been kind to Chiefs’ coaches. Stuart Baxter, Gavin Hunt, Arthur Zwane were all axed without being afforded the time or support to fully implement their vision. The club has too often pulled the trigger prematurely, sacrificing long-term progress for short-term fixes.

Nabi deserves better.

He walked into a squad assembled by others, with glaring weaknesses across the pitch. And yet, he found solutions, motivated underperforming players, and delivered the kind of success that has eluded the club for far too long.

Now the ball is in the boardroom’s court — in the hands of the Motaung family.

Will they back a coach who’s already proven he can deliver trophies? Will they afford him the time and resources to build something sustainable? Or will they repeat the mistakes of the past and let another potential long-term solution slip through their fingers?

Amakhosi have waited nearly a decade to celebrate again. They finally have a coach who’s shown he can handle the pressure, win big matches, and restore pride to the badge.

Surely, that’s worth at least one more transfer window — or six more months.