What style of football does Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi play?
Nasreddine Nabi is set to become the new Kaizer Chiefs coach, but what type of football will he bring to Naturena and South Africa?
Nasreddine Nabi is set to become the new Kaizer Chiefs coach, but what type of football will he bring to Naturena and South Africa?
WHAT BRAND OF FOOTBALL WILL NABI BRING TO KAIZER CHIEFS?
NASREDDINE NABI IS COMMITTED TO ENTERTAINING FOOTBALL
FAR Rabat boss Nasreddine Nabi has reiterated his desire to ‘put on a good show’ for the supporters to enjoy and shared the secret to his team’s productivity in front of goal this term. They’ve scored 63 times in 29 matches, 14 more than any other side in the division. This revelation will be particularly pleasing for Kaizer Chiefs fans, who always demand entertaining, attack-minded football. The Glamour Boys only scored 25 times in 30 DStv Prem matches in 2023-2024. That’s an abysmal record that needs to change. Since when did a top side score 0.83 goals per game in their league competition? Not only is Nabi committed to expansive football, but he’s also a proven winner after back-to-back trebles with Young Africans in Tanzania.
When quizzed on FAR’s scoring exploits back in March, he cited two key reasons:
“The first is that we have high-calibre strikers and midfielders who can give the team a scoring boost.
“The second reason is related to the offensive tendency I rely on. I always focus on this approach in my style, and it is a given that I have adopted in my previous experiences.
“Sometimes I even take risks at the expense of the defence, even if that costs me goals because I am looking for scoring, and these goals are what increase the value of matches and the team as a whole, and the display aspect is also important in football,” he concluded.
VAST AND VARIED EXPERIENCE
Nabi was born in Monastir, Tunisia in 1965 and has dual Tunisian and Belgian citizenship. Vastly experienced, he’s held head coaching roles in Libya, Sudan, Egypt, Italy, Tanzania and Morocco. This should stand him in good stead.
TALKING TACTICS
NABI IS AN EXPONENT OF THE 4-2-3-1 SYSTEM
Too often in 2023-2024, Cavin Johnson opted for the defensive security of a 4-3-3 with two out-and-out holding midfielders and then another player bridging the gap between defence and attack. The problem with that approach is two-fold; either the spare man isn’t creative enough to operate as a number 10 (Yusuf Maart), or the ideal spare man (Nkosingiphile Ngcobo) hasn’t been fit for long periods. Ngcobo’s fitness issues weren’t Johnson’s fault, but his formation was far too ‘safe’ and often resulted in stale, impotent performances. If Nabi wants to get the 4-2-3-1 right, he’ll need to nail down his preferred combination at the base of midfield and make sure those players have complementary skills. There’s no use deploying Siyethemnba Sithebe and Sibongiseni Mthethwa in the same team. Edson Castillo alongside Mthethwa could work, with a more creative number 10 ahead of them.
WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER?
We all know that Nabi won back-to-back trebles with Young Africans in Tanzania before taking up his current post at FAR Rabat. Another matter is whether that success can translate into improved results for a team of Chiefs’ stature. For now, Chiefs are waiting on the conclusion of the Moroccan Botola Pro 1 League. They also have to buy out Nabi’s contract expiring in June 2025 before they can finalise a deal.
ARE YOU EXCITED AT THE IMMINENT ARRIVAL OF NASREDDINE NABI?
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