Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi admits his team were well-beaten by SuperSport United but blames it on fatigue.
Chiefs were put to the sword by SuperSport United, who secured a 4-1 win at the FNB Stadium, their biggest victory this season, coming after they had last won in the league on December 14.
Matsatsantsa were off and running after just three minutes through Chiefs old boy Samir Nurkovic before he assisted the second, scored by Christian Saile, who left Amakhosi in January, after Glody Lilepo had equalised just two minutes earlier.
Ghampani Lungu and Siphesihle Ndlovu completed the rout in the second half with Chiefs being reduced to 10 when Gaston Sirino was sent off in the 69th minute.
Why is Nabi blaming the loss on fatigue?
However, while he acknowledges that his team were second best, Nabi says it was down to the fact that SuperSport had a week to prepare while his team had just two days.
“It was a very difficult game and very painful loss,” Nabi, speaking through a translator, told SuperSport TV after the match.
“Obviously, I’m not gonna give excuses but there are excuses because obviously we only had two days for the players to recover and they played an exceptional match, but unfortunately, as I said, we can’t give excuses but there are excuses.
“When the body or the physical is not responding, then everything falls apart like a castle of cards. And yes, we conceded in the fourth minute and after 20 minutes we still didn’t have a reply.
“And as I’ve mentioned, when the body is not right, then definitely nothing goes well. Especially the fact that the opponent had a week to recover and we only had two days, but it does not take away the fact that they had played a good game,” said the tactician.
Chiefs fans look away…it’s Sundowns next
SuperSport had played their Nedbank Cup Round of 16 match against Cape Town Spurs last Wednesday while Chiefs took on Chippa United on Saturday and Nabi says it made all the difference as his players could not cope with the physical demands of the game.
“It hurts. It’s really painful, but as I mentioned, when the physique is not well. We can see that we gifted them the first three goals. It was just giveaways,” added the former Yanga and AS FAR coach.
“It happens. Also happens to big teams, you must not judge the team only on today’s performance.”
Nabi’s team failed to secure a third straight win for the first time this season, continuing their inconsistent run, and they are now left in sixth position on the table with 25 points from 18 games, but they can drop to seventh if AmaZulu FC beat Sekhukhune United on Wednesday.
It does not get any better for Chiefs as their next league match will be away to champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday, March 1.
