How coach Nasreddine Nabi fixed Kaizer Chiefs' halftime mood against Golden Arrows

Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi faced a challenging atmosphere after sensing his team's mood at half-time during their Premiership clash with Golden Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

Despite leading Chiefs to a narrow 1-0 victory, Nabi noticed a downbeat mood among his players in the dressing room during the break.

The Tunisian mentor took it upon himself to rally the squad, urging them to focus and reignite their passion as they sought to convert their efforts into goals.

“I think the first half we didn’t create too many opportunities to score, we didn’t have chances to score,” Nabi candidly stated following the match. Recognising the fatigue in his squad after a demanding encounter with Mamelodi Sundowns, he reassured them, “Not to worry, more focus, more demand, I need you to improve, more passion, and you will score.”

The second half initially mirrored the first, with Chiefs struggling to find their rhythm.

“I think we started the second half badly in the first 10 minutes, because some players were tired after the game against Sundowns – it’s normal,” Nabi explained. However, he later acknowledged the pivotal role played by his substitutes in turning the tide.

New signing Flavio Silva made a striking impact on his debut after being introduced in the 59th minute, replacing Ashley du Preez. Just ten minutes later, Silva broke the stalemate, delivering the only goal of the game.

“The three substitutes gave the team more,” Nabi remarked, highlighting the contributions of Silva alongside Gaston Sirino and Mfundo Vilakazi, who came out onto the pitch with determination, guiding Chiefs to a much-needed win.

"I want to congratulate the board for their significant efforts. It's wonderful that some players have already begun to participate, and several of them will also have the opportunity to play," Nabi said.

“Now, I think the performance of some players who played gives us more solutions, but building a team is always tough. With the new players we need some time to build our team and to be better, but for now we have to say congratulations to the board for these players,” he added.

This victory marks Chiefs' fourth win in five league games, consolidating their position in the league standings with 13 points — level with leaders Sekhukhune United, but relegated to second place on goal difference.

Notably, they remain the only side in the league yet to concede a goal this season, a statistic that adds to their growing confidence as they push for silverware.

Looking ahead, Chiefs will back themselves to continue their strong form as they prepare to face the same Sekhukhune United side currently topping the table. This highly anticipated clash will take place at home on Saturday, September 16, promising a thrilling encounter that could have significant implications for the league title race.