Amakhosi have received a massive lift in their pursuit of their next coach
Kaizer Chiefs’ pursuit of Tunisian coach Nasreddine Nabi has received a major boost following reports that his club FAR Rabat have given him permission to leave.
Nabi has been courted by Chiefs for over one year but emerged as their main target to replace interim coach Cavin Johnson in recent weeks following the club’s poor season that saw them finish 10th in the PSL.
Now, reports are claiming the former Yanga coach has received the greenlight to join the Soweto giants at the end of the season, as FAR Rabat begin the search for his replacement.
Moroccan outlet Biladna 24 has been quoted saying Nabi and the Moroccan champions have struck a deal that will see him depart after his final match in charge with his team still in with a chance of winning two trophies.
FAR Rabat spent most of the campaign at the top of the table but a draw and loss in the run-in allowed Raja Casablanca move to the summit and take a one-point lead, heading into the final match of the season.
Chiefs will have to wait until Nabi completes the season in Morocco
It means Nabi will need to secure victory against local rivals FUS Rabat in the season finale, and hope Raja drop points to claim the title, before he turns his focus to the Throne Cup semi-final.
If his team wins, Chiefs will have to wait until he leads FAR Rabat in the final before they can land their man.
The report further claims the north African club do not want to stand in the way of the 58-year-old tactician, who has been on Chiefs’ radar since 2023, when the club first approached him to take over ahead of the recently-concluded season.
Talks broke down at the time after the two parties did not agree over the makeup of his backroom staff.
That issue is believed to have been revisited again in the latest talks but Chiefs, seemingly in a weaker position now, agreed to some concessions, having seen their experiment with Molefi Ntseki and Johnson fail.
Chiefs have put their transfer business on hold until a new coach comes in with the club believed to be looking to sign at least six players.
Amakhosi’s transfer plans are on hold until the coach arrives
Prominent agent Mike Makaab revealed last week that he is working with Amakhosi on a number of targets but everything will roll in motion once there is a new man in the dugout as he will have the final say on the incomings and outgoings.
“I think Chiefs will have to settle their technical staff first. It is very difficult to make decisions on your playing staff until you put your technical staff in place,” Makaab told Gagasi FM.
“I am sure Chiefs are going be announcing their technical staff going forward, soon or later. Once that happens, then we will move forward.”
Nabi would represent a major upgrade on what the club has had in the dugout in recent years and help them challenge Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates in the PSL after years of struggle.
The tactician won back-to-back league titles with Yanga, while also leading the club to the CAF Confederation Cup final in 2022-23, having previously handled Al-Merrikh SC of Sudan.
