Nedbank Cup: Kaizer Chiefs deserved triumph over Sundowns – Nabi

Photo Credit - Kaizer Chiefs Media.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has dedicated the team’s qualification to the final of the Nedbank Cup to the fans after his side came from a goal down to beat rivals Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday.

In the entertaining semi-final clash, Ashley Du Preez came off the bench to score a dramatic last minute winner as Chiefs came from behind to defeat the Brazilians. Amakhosi went into the half-time break a goal down, after Teboho Mokoena scored from a free kick in stoppage time of a very evenly matched first 45 minutes.

However, Chiefs kept pressing for an equalizer and their persistence paid off in the second half, first through Wandile Duba’s composed finish in the 57th minute and right at the death, from an equally well-taken goal from Du Preez.

“I think, even the first half, it was very good half for us,” Nabi told SuperSport TV as quoted by idiskitimes. “It was a tactical half. In the planning of the game, we said, we will manage the first half. We know that physical(ly) Sundowns, after the game against Esperance, and then they have a game also against Al Ahly, they can’t manage 90 minutes,

“I think after 45 minutes, because it’s very, very difficult, it’s a very bad time you concede when you go inside, last minute, in the first half.But believe me, we said only one thing in the change room. ‘This game is our game.’ We have to win this game for the fans, for the board, for everybody. We have to prove that we deserve to be in the final. And I think we said for the players, congratulations for the first half, but I was more than sure that for the second half they will did very well.”

Nabi concluded saying: “And this win, we make it for the fans, to make them happy. Now congratulations for all the players, the players here, the players out of squad, all the players, congratulation for them.”

Chiefs will now face Orlando Pirates, who beat Marumo Gallants 1-0 in the other semi-final, in the final of the domestic competition at Moses Mabhida Stadium on 10 May.