Kaizer Chiefs have gone nine seasons without winning silverware despite the high turnover of coaches at Naturena.
Last season, it got worse as the Glamour Boys went on to finish 10th on the Premier Soccer League table.
Coach Nasreddine Nabi, who is a proven performer with several teams across the continent, was appointed to help the Soweto Giants bounce back to the top of Mzansi football. The former AS FAR Rabat coach has now revealed how the situation was at Amakhosi.
‘It was a mental aspect that was failing at Chiefs'
“I was watching the players, seven to six months, before I came and on my own I had a report on the strengths and weaknesses of players,” the 59-year-old told the media.
“I had a very precise idea of the general state of the team and different payers that are part of the team. There were challenges at all levels I think.
“We cannot mention all of it here, it was a mental aspect that was really failing, when the mental state is not there, the rest, the tactical and physical aspects will not follow through.”
Senior players failed the younger ones?
Nabi has further stated he was not impressed with the example set by a section of the senior players.
“The deficit, in mentality, includes character, winning mentality, the reactions when you lose, all this consists of what I’m talking about, it all affected the young players who were trying to break into the first team,” he continued.
“When the seniors act like that, it affects the young players who are willing, or hoping to join the first team. This point is very important. You have very big young talent in Kaizer Chiefs, the impact.
“We have big value for young players if the impact of negative mentality, you have danger to impact negatively the character of the youngsters. For myself it’s a big danger, thank you God for a new season and all the players have the willingness to change and do something new.”
Chiefs will be playing SuperSport United on Saturday in the Carling Knockout's Round of 16 hoping to get a favourable result.
