Nabi: Chiefs’ Bench Power Proved Decisive Against Arrows

In a hard-fought encounter at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Kaizer Chiefs secured a 1-0 victory over Golden Arrows, and according to head coach Nasreddine Nabi, the game-changers came from the bench. 

This win helps the Soweto giants maintain their perfect start to the Betway Premiership season.

The match was a story of persistence. Chiefs dominated possession and created chances, but a breakthrough proved elusive. It wasn’t until the 68th minute that the narrative shifted dramatically. 

The coach's decision to introduce a trio of substitutes—off-season signing Flavio da Silva, Mfundo Vilakazi, and Gaston Sirino—paid off instantly. The new players combined brilliantly, with Da Silva ultimately finishing the move to score the winner.

Nabi's post-match comments acknowledged this pivotal moment, highlighting how the fresh legs and new attacking combinations provided the final piece of the puzzle.

The victory wasn't just about the three points; it was a testament to strategic substitutions and the depth of talent within the squad. It showed that when the starting eleven are struggling to find a breakthrough, the bench has the quality to deliver a match-winning moment.

NABI CREDITS SUPER SUBS AFTER ARROWS WIN

“I think the first half we created too much opportunity to score, we don’t have chance to score and I observed it after 45 minutes the mood, go down in the room, I talked with them and normally more focused, go up, don’t go down and (have) patience you will score and I’m happy it happened,” Nabi told SuperSport TV.

“But I think we started bad the second half, the first 30 minutes of the second half because some players were very tried after last game against Sundowns, it’s normal. I think the substitutes gave more for the team.

“You’ll remember before the game I said it’s a very difficult game; we were in for a very difficult game and it’s a very difficult game. I think I’m happy for all the staff, team players, people and fans.”