Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi breaks silence on Mduduzi Shabalala’s early exit
Nabi, has addressed the surprising substitution of midfielder Shabalala during their 1-0 loss to Orlando Pirates.Fans were left puzzled when one of Amakhosi’s best-performing players was taken off in the 60th minute, making way for new signing Glody Lilepo.
Heartbreak at FNB Stadium
Chiefs suffered a crushing defeat as Patrick Maswanganyi’s last-minute penalty secured all three points for the Buccaneers in front of a sold-out FNB Stadium on Saturday. The result was a bitter pill to swallow, especially with Chiefs already struggling due to multiple injuries.
Ashley du Preez, Wandile Duba, and Edson Castillo were all sidelined, leaving Amakhosi with limited attacking options. However, Shabalala’s inclusion in the starting lineup brought hope to the fans. The 20-year-old has been Chiefs’ most productive attacking player this season, delivering four goals and two assists. His early substitution, therefore, came as a shock.
Why did Nabi take Shabalala off?
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Nabi shed light on the decision. The coach revealed that playing Shabalala was a calculated risk, given his recent return from injury.
“He is coming from an injury and he’s been our best player so far,” Nabi explained via assistant coach and translator, Cedric Kaze.
“When you play in the derby, you need all your best players on the field. Even though he was not 100%, we felt he could give us something for 60 to 70 minutes. But when we saw he was starting to get fatigued, we took him off in the second half.”
Chiefs must regroup quickly
There’s no time for Amakhosi to dwell on the defeat, as they face AmaZulu on Tuesday at FNB Stadium. Kick-off is set for 19:30, and Chiefs will be eager to bounce back and put their Soweto Derby heartbreak behind them. The match presents an opportunity for Nabi’s men to prove their resilience and get their campaign back on track. With the home crowd behind them, they will be determined to showcase an improved performance and capitalize on their attacking strengths.
AmaZulu, on the other hand, will not be an easy opponent. They have been in decent form and will come into the clash looking to exploit Chiefs’ recent defensive frailties. For Chiefs, tightening up at the back while maintaining attacking fluidity will be crucial in securing a much-needed win.
Stay tuned with The South African as Kaizer Chiefs coach Nabi breaks silence on Shabalala’s early exit.
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