Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Humphrey Mlwane has revealed what he feels Amakhosi coach Nasreddine Nabi is finally getting right.
The Tunisian was tasked with a significant challenge upon his arrival at Chiefs at the start of the season: reviving the club's fortunes.
The team's performance in the first round of the campaign has been characterized by inconsistency and fluctuating results.
Mlwane feels a positive shift has occurred, as Nabi has moved away from relying heavily on youngsters and is now prioritising experienced players.
He stated that the team is now implementing a strategy of gradual integration for its young players, rather than relying excessively on their contributions.
NABI NOW RELYING ON EXPERIENCED PLAYERS
“Each time Chiefs start with experienced players, they play well because of the understanding and the experience those players have,” Miwane tells KickOff.
“The more older and experienced you are it's the more you can carry the pressure that comes with playing for such a big club.
“They understand the importance of having to win a match for the team and not for individual glory.
“As a coach, you need to introduce your youngsters gradually and not put pressure on their tiny shoulders. You learn too much from them, and they end up making a lot of mistakes.
“You are risking the danger of making them big-headed and thinking the team is on their shoulders. You can't put pressure on a 20-year-old and expect him to carry the team.
“If you introduce them gradually with 20 minutes or 15 minutes remaining they remain sharp, they remain hungry for more game time, and they bring in more energy.
“There's a lot of pressure in being a Chiefs player, and sometimes you end up doing wrong things if you try too hard.
“During our time at Chiefs, the club relied on experienced players, not youngsters. Hence, opponents would shake in their boots by just looking at us in the tunnel. There was a lot of experience there; we could not lose two games in a row.
“What's nice with experienced players is they can even coach or advise each other on the field of play. But if I'm an experienced player and you put me on the field with five youngsters…you are giving me a lot of work, and I end up not doing my job because I have to concentrate on guiding these young people throughout the game.
“It is due to the experience that Chiefs managed to protect their goal on riday.”
