Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has insisted he won’t blame Samkelo Zwane for the costly mistake he made against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Chiefs were demolished 4-0 by Masandawana in the Carling Knockout Cup quarterfinal on Saturday night at the FNB Stadium.
The Brazilians scored their first goal courtesy of Zwane's mistake. He was attempting to pass to Njabulo Blom but Lucas Ribeiro intercepted the ball.
Ribeiro as then tackled in the area, resulting in a penalty for Sundowns, which Iqraam Rayners converted.
Nabi has chosen not to point fingers at Zwane, acknowledging his young age and ongoing learning process.
He expressed disappointment in the more experienced players who he believed failed to provide the necessary guidance to the youngsters.
NASREDDINE NABI SAYS SAMKELO ZWANE WASN’T A WORST PLAYER ON THE DAY
“It’s true that some of the youngsters didn’t show what they wanted to use, you spoke about Zwane, we believe that it’s a learning curve for those youngsters,” said Nabi.
“But especially what we need to do in these kinds of games to deal with these kinds of big games.
“The experienced players, they need to take responsibility. That’s where we believe that today, there was something that they didn’t hold on to.
“Because all those young players, they are looking up to those who are more experienced having played these kinds of games a hundred times.
They’re looking up to them, they need to understand how big this club is.
“How big the history of this club is big that nobody, skillful as he is or he might be, is not going to be above this club. That’s what they need to understand and take responsibility for in difficult moments like this.
“Because Zwane is a young player, and he still has all his years ahead of him. He’s going to improve, he’s going to improve.
“And Zwane was not the worst player on the field. No, there were others and more experienced than him. That’s why we need to encourage our players.
“Those experienced, they need to take responsibility.”
