Kaizer Chiefs kicked off their 2024/25 Betway Premiership season with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Marumo Gallants at the Toyota Stadium on Saturday. New head coach Nasreddine Nabi expressed his satisfaction with the win, praising his team’s winning attitude and overall performance.
In his post-match press conference, Nabi acknowledged the competitive nature of the match, stating, “It was a well-contested match, very aggressively disputed. We had a lot of positive moments that unfortunately we did not convert into goals.” He commended his team’s resilience and creativity, noting that their win was well-deserved given the numerous chances they created.
Nabi also highlighted the impact of his game-changing substitutions, saying, “It’s part of the coaching job… Sometimes you have to take a risk, like we did in the last 15 minutes to try to win the game.” He expressed his delight with the performance of the club’s new signings, but emphasized that it’s still early days.
The coach reserved special praise for Mfundo Vilakazi, saying, “I love Vilakazi; he’s like a son to me… He’s a huge talent and he needs to understand that when you start for Kaizer Chiefs, it takes a big sacrifice.” Nabi emphasized the importance of protecting his young players and keeping them grounded.
Nabi also noted a significant cultural shift within the team, observing, “The most pleasing difference I see in the team from last season is the winning attitude of the players.” He attributed this change to the team’s newfound resilience and determination.
The Amakhosi will look to build on this momentum when they face AmaZulu in Durban on September 25. With Nabi at the helm, fans are eagerly anticipating a successful season for the club.
