Amakhosi have revealed the reasons behind the appointment of the Tunisian tactician
Nasreddine Nabi’s understanding of African football was one of the main reasons Kaizer Chiefs settled on him as their new coach over other candidates.
Chiefs finally unveiled the Tunisian tactician on Sunday, ending weeks of speculation over the identity of their next coach, and he is tasked with restoring their place at the top of South African football.
The club has now confirmed that Nabi trumped other coaches due to his extensive experience of the continent added to his high affinity with the Chiefs brand.
“We looked at a number of things, we looked for the right coach who has coached on the continent, who understands the Chiefs brand, who understands where we want to go. A coach who has got hunger and passion for success, passion for the Chiefs brand and a whole lot more,” said Chiefs Marketing Director Jessica Motaung.
Jessica then waxed lyrical about the ‘great job’ done by Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr and Football Manager Bobby Motaung in picking the former FAR Rabat and Young Africans (Yanga) coach.
‘It wasn’t just a continental decision’
“I must say well done to the Sporting Director and the entire football department together with the Football Manager for the extensive work they did in scouring the world, it wasn’t just a continental decision,” she added.
“We’ve looked at a number of coaches and the presentations that were made and a thorough analysis in finding the right team to work with us.
“I must congratulate them on that work and I’m excited, we’ll give them all the support as a board, as an organisation and also as the fans to make sure that Chiefs goes to where it needs to be from a success point of view.”
Jessica was speaking during the launch of the Toyota Cup, a three-year tournament that will see Chiefs take on Nabi’s ex-side Yanga in the inaugural match on July 28 at the Bloemfontein Stadium.
Her sentiments mirror what Nabi said of the club when he spoke for the first time over the Kaizer Chiefs job just before he left Moroccan side FAR Rabat.
Nabi has coached six top African teams
“I chose the Kaizer Chiefs offer because it is an honour for me to supervise a team of Kaizer’s value,” Nabi told Tunisian media last month.
“And at the same time, as a Tunisian and an Arab, I have this responsibility and this opportunity [of which] I can learn about a different culture, football and socially, which is a gain I always aspire to, without giving myself too much value.”
The 58-year-old is highly experienced on the continent where he has coached Al-Ahly Benghazi of Libya, Egypt’s Ismaily, Al-Hilal and Al-Merreikh, both of Sudan, before his hugely successful two-year spell with Yanga between 2021 and 2023.
He won back-to-back league and cup double with the Tanzanian giants, as well as reaching the CAF Confederation Cup final in 2023, after which he switched to FAR Rabat where he nearly won the league and cup before losing out to Raja Casablanca.
