Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi believes his team has the psychological fortitude to handle the pressure of Saturday’s Nedbank Cup quarter-final against Stellenbosch FCat the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
Assessment of opposition
We are playing against a good team that is still in the CAF Confederation Cup competition this season, with a very experienced technical staff. We are expecting a tough game. We don’t believe for a second that the two wins we have already had over them will count this time. Both games were very tight. However, we are confident in ourselves and will do everything we can to try to go as far as possible in this competition.
Whether their focus lies more on the Nedbank Cup than the league
We are focused on both. For the Nedbank Cup, we have to do everything to try to win it, yet we don’t see the cup as our only means of qualifying for CAF competition. In the league, we are only three points behind the team currently in fourth place, so to get there is largely in our hands. This is Kaizer Chiefs. We are a big club and we want to restore the habit of winning trophies regularly.
Thoughts on being statistically better than last season in terms of points and progress in the Nedbank Cup
We still have to improve consistency regarding our tactical performances and results. It fluctuates; sometimes very good and sometimes below the standard we should be at. This is not uncommon at this stage after starting a new process from the beginning. Even though there are many opinions out there about the state of the team, what we are lacking and we need to improve, we fully understand where we are in the process and how we want to go forward.
In such an important fixture, how to prepare the team to play the game, not the occasion
With tight turnaround times between matches, there’s not a lot of time for training. We do a lot of video work as well as mental preparation to ensure they have the correct disposition to perform their respective roles. We give them assurances that we believe in their quality and to go out and play without fear.
What is expected from Stellenbosch
We have played them twice already in the league and have analysed them thoroughly, including their CAF games. However, cup games require a different approach to league games. It will require a lot of mental resolve, and patience too, because at the need of the game, someone will be knocked out and the other will be through to the next round. That needs to be considered. We have some tactical innovations which I won’t divulge now, but we are ready for anything.
Reasons to be confident they are on the right track
It is not about confidence. We believe in a process that is designed in steps and when you understand which step you are at in terms of how the players have assimilated into the system and what you need to improve in the future, then it is just about time, as the process unfolds towards where we want to be.
Match details
The Nedbank Cup quarter-final match between Stellenbosch FC and Kaizer Chiefs will take place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with kick-off set for 18:00.
Who will progress to the semi-finals: Kaizer Chiefs or Stellenbosch FC?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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