Nedbank Cup: Nabi should stay even if Kaizer Chiefs lose to Orlando Pirates - Spencer
- Dennis Kegengo
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Photo Credit - Kaizer Chiefs Media.
Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Derrick Spencer has called on the club management to keep coach coach Nasreddine Nabi even if the team loses in the final of the Nedbank Cup on May 10.
After qualifying for the final following a 2-1 victory against Mamelodi Sundowns, Amakhosi were pitted to face rivals Orlando Pirates in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Pirates reached a third consecutive final following their 1-0 semi-final win against Marumo Gallants.
While Spencer admitted that the Tunisian coach has not performed in his first season at the club, he believes the final of domestic Cup should not be used to decide his fate and feels he should be allowed to continue building the team for the future.
"Nabi's first season has had its ups and downs. It's not what we were expecting but, I think, with all the pressure and the past years of not doing well, it's not easy to come at such a big team and hit the ground running,” said Spencer as quoted by Sowetan.
“I think it'd be unfair for us to say he failed if he doesn't win the Nedbank Cup. He must not go...he needs to be given time even if he doesn't win the Nedbank Cup. Half the team is new players, so finding combinations takes time and there's been injuries as well.
“It's been a tough season, but hopefully he has already adapted to the South African style, the culture, and he knows what Chiefs is about now. Going into the next season, there'll be no excuses.”
He continued: “We found ourselves in the Nedbank Cup final now, that shows that slowly but surely there's something happening. We're in the final... we beat Sundowns [2-1 in the semi-finals in Tshwane last Sunday], who are one of the best teams in Africa. It's already a big win to get to the final with all the negativity around the team of late.”
Before the final, Chiefs will return to Betway Premiership action with an away fixture against Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.