Ex-Kaizer Chiefs star lauds Nabi’s high standards – ‘We trained three times a day’

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Edmilson Dove has offered a glimpse into the demanding and “perfectionist” coaching style of Nasreddine Nabi, the man who guided the club to its first trophy in nearly a decade.

The Mozambican international was a key figure in Nabi’s defensive setup during the triumphant 2024/25 season, which culminated in a Nedbank Cup final victory over bitter rivals Orlando Pirates.

Although the Tunisian coach’s time at Naturena was brief, ending early this season, his impact was profound.

Speaking on the Soccer Beat podcast after his own departure from the club in June 2025, Dove detailed the relentless standards that defined the Nabi era.

Dove on Nabi’s drive for perfection at Kaizer Chiefs

Dove described a coach obsessed with tactical precision, whose pursuit of excellence often pushed the squad to its physical limits. The defender revealed that Nabi’s methods were unlike anything he had previously experienced in his professional career.

“He is just a perfectionist; he is obsessed with perfection,” Dove explained. “For the first time in my career, the only time we trained three times [in a single day] was under ex-Chiefs coach Nabi. He was obsessed with things flowing the right way.”

This intense drive, Dove noted, was matched by a direct, no-nonsense attitude in the dressing room, where no player was exempt from criticism, regardless of their standing in the team.

Comparisons to Benni McCarthy’s brutal honesty

Dove also drew a compelling parallel between Nabi and another of his former managers, South African football icon Benni McCarthy, under whom he played at Cape Town City FC. He pointed to their shared preference for immediate, unfiltered feedback over post-match video analysis.

“I can compare him with coach Benni McCarthy,” Dove said. “He’s the type of guy where, if you’re having a bad first half, he doesn’t wait for the game to finish to analyse videos. He will tell you straight. That is where they are similar.”

Despite an injury-plagued final season that restricted him to just 13 appearances, Dove’s role in securing the 2025 Nedbank Cup remains a significant achievement from his three years with the Glamour Boys.

Following Nabi’s departure, his former assistants, Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, have taken charge, inheriting a team that has been reminded of what it takes to win silverware.