Kaizer Chiefs coach dedicates season-opening win to absent Nabi

Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef says their 2-0 victory against Stellenbosch FC is dedicated to his boss Nasreddine Nabi who was not on the bench as they started the season.

Nabi missed the game as he is away on compassionate leave after his wife was involved in a road accident this week but his players did the job, scoring early in the first half and late in the second.

Nkosingiphile Ngcobo broke the deadlock via a freekick after Stellenbosch’s Siviwe Nkwali had been sent off while Glody Lilepo wrapped up the win with the last kick of the game after a foul on Ashley Du Preez.

Chiefs assistant coach praying for Nabi and his family

Victory saw Chiefs begin the season in the best possible way especially after rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates failed to win on matchday one and Ben Youssef is delighted that the players rose up to the occasion in the absence of their coach.

“First, I have to say, we promised all the family of Khosi that we will win this game for the coach [Nabi] and for his wife, and we pray that she will be okay and be better,” he told SuperSport TV after the match.

“We are so proud for our player they did very well, I think they performed very well.

“We suffered a little bit in the first half because when we scored and the opponent get a red card, so mentally we think we finished the game.”

What did Ben Youssef do differently after the break?

The tactician, however, admitted his team were lucky not to concede as Stellies had three good chances after Ngcobo’s goal but failed to make use of them.

“But we were lucky we don’t concede so in the second half we changed a lot of things and like I said we’re proud of the players they did very well all of them,” he added.

“And we’re happy also for the fans now we finished this game, and we start to think about the next game Polokwane [City]. And we just have two days to rest, and we have to think about the next game.”

Chiefs will be hoping for home comforts when they take on Polokwane City in their second match of the season at FNB Stadium on Wednesday in what will be the start of a three-game run at their backyard.