Khune slams Chiefs over ‘unfortunate’ Nabi exit – ‘He was building a well-oiled machine’

Kaizer Chiefs legend Itumeleng Khune has expressed his disappointment at the manner in which coach Nasreddine Nabi has left the club.

Chiefs are in the market again for a new coach just one month after the start of the 2025-26 season following the announcement that coach Nabi has agreed to part ways with the club.

Different reasons have been given over Nabi’s departure with the coach reported to have decided to return home to be with his wife after she was involved in an accident while others claim he does not have the requisite qualifications to guide Chiefs into the CAF Confederation Cup.

Whatever the reason, Khune is saddened to see Chiefs part ways with the experienced coach as he feels the Glamour Boys were onto something with him and should have given him time.

Nabi was ‘building’ well-oiled machine’

“It’s unfortunate what is happening at Kaizer Chiefs,” Khune said via Khune’s Corner. “Remember, for the past 10 years, Kaizer Chiefs had not won silverware until the coach came and broke that curse.”

“I wish they could have given him more time because you can see he was building a well-oiled machine. It’s just unfortunate that things didn’t go well for him, hence the club decided to part ways with him,” added Khune, who spent 25 years at Chiefs.

The former goalkeeper says Nabi carried himself well at the club and he would like to see others do the same and maintain high standards if Chiefs are to stay competitive and return to their glory days.

Who will be the next Chiefs coach?

“It’s just an unfortunate situation. I would have loved to see coach Nabi continue with the club, but again, Kaizer Chiefs are in business,” said the ex-Bafana Bafana skipper.

“Players and coaches know that they won’t be at the clubs forever, but it’s very important that when they are given an opportunity, they give it their all. Coach Nabi did that in his first season, he won silverware and people will forever remember him for that.”

Following Nabi’s departure, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane, Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy and Golden Arrows boss Manqoba Mngqithi are among names that have been linked to the Chiefs job while assistant coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze are currently in charge.