Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi didn’t hold back when addressing the impact of Wandile Duba’s absence in the Soweto Derby defeat to Orlando Pirates, admitting the team lacked firepower without their top striker.
Chiefs fell 2-1 to Pirates in front of a sold-out crowd at FNB Stadium, marking their second derby loss of the season and extending a dismal run of seven consecutive matches without a win. During that stretch, Amakhosi drew with Cape Town City, TS Galaxy, and Chippa United, while falling to Golden Arrows, Richards Bay, Marumo Gallants, and now Pirates.
Why was Duba missing from the Chiefs line up?
Many fans were puzzled by Duba’s absence, especially with the derby on the line. The 20-year-old striker, who leads Chiefs in scoring this season with six goals and three assists in 23 appearances, played no part in the high-stakes showdown.
Nabi explained the reason behind Duba’s exclusion:
“It’s true that Duba has been a player who is very important to our system. But those who played [against Pirates] showcased themselves,” said Nabi.
“They showed that they are capable of doing the job, but at the end it’s true that when you are missing a player like Duba, offensively you are lacking.”
Duba missed the game due to a one-match suspension after picking up his fourth yellow card in Chiefs’ previous clash against Marumo Gallants.
Duba’s red-hot form makes him irreplaceable
The young striker has led the Chiefs’ frontline with confidence, often outperforming more experienced forwards like Ranga Chivaviro and Tashreeq Morris. His absence against Pirates clearly left a void.
Duba’s importance to the team was highlighted again during the Nedbank Cup semi-final, where he scored in a thrilling 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns—a win that secured Chiefs a spot in the final.
Eyes on redemption in Nedbank Cup final
Now, all eyes turn to May 10, when Kaizer Chiefs get a shot at revenge in the Nedbank Cup final, once again facing Orlando Pirates. The highly anticipated clash will take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium, with kickoff at 15:30.
Stay tuned with The South African as Kaizer Chiefs coach didn’t hold back when addressing the impact of Duba’s absence.
Do you think Duba’s return will tip the scales in Chiefs’ favour in the cup final?
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