Kaizer Chiefs were not mentally ready for Chippa United test – Nabi

Photo Credit - Kaizer Chiefs Media.

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has admitted his side did not deserve to beat Chippa United in their Betway Premiership fixture at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday.

After their success to reach the final of the Nedbank Cup following a 2-1 semi-final win against Mamelodi Sundowns, Amakhosi shifted their focus to the top-flight. However, their quest to climb up the log was once again thwarted as they were held to a 0-0 draw by the Chilli Boys.

This result marked Amakhosi’s second consecutive draw in the league, following their 1-1 stalemate with TS Galaxy two weeks ago. Every time Amakhosi looked to press home their advantage in possession, they were met with a congested defence that proved difficult, and the hosts offered minimal threat going forward.

“I think it was a very tough game, to be honest with you we don’t deserve to win this game,” he said on SuperSport TV as quoted by idiskitimes. “To win this game you must win challenges, you must be ready for every challenge, and you must be number one for every ball.

“I think mentally we were not ready for this game. To win this game you have to be more than 100% ready to fight. Today, if I win it’s not correct. I need another mentality. I think today, all the team were [somewhat] out, out of the normal performance.”

With four fixtures remaining, the single point kept Chiefs in eighth position in the league table just two points shy of seventh-placed AmaZulu, and with a game in hand.

Next, they welcome Marumo Gallants to the FNB stadium on Saturday, 26 April, before they play two consecutive Soweto Derbies against Orlando Pirates, first at FNB in the league the following week, and then in the Nedbank Cup final on 10 May in Durban.