Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has declared he is prepared to walk away from the club if management decides against retaining him beyond the current season.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of the Nedbank Cup semi-final clash against Mamelodi Sundowns, Nabi addressed mounting speculation over his future following the team’s erratic form.
Hired on a two-year deal ahead of the season, the Tunisian tactician now faces mounting pressure with the club struggling to meet expectations.
“I’m not here to say whether I deserve it or not. There is a board of directors, we work together, they analyze the situation. If they think we don’t deserve to stay next season, I will leave. If not, I will stay,” Nabi said. “But I am here to work, I have a contract and objectives, and I believe in my process.”
Chiefs’ recent performances have raised concerns, with the club currently on a four-game winless run that includes two defeats and a draw.
They have conceded 29 goals in the league—one of the worst defensive records this season—and have failed to string together consistent results under Nabi’s leadership.
The situation is compounded by the club’s precarious position in the league standings.
With just 30 points from 24 matches, Kaizer Chiefs sit in eighth place, 28 points behind runaway leaders Sundowns.
This puts their qualification for next season’s MTN8 competition at risk, adding further significance to their upcoming cup tie.
The Nedbank Cup now represents the club’s only realistic opportunity to secure silverware this season, and to end a decade-long trophy drought.
However, their semi-final opponents are a formidable obstacle.
Sundowns have already beaten Chiefs three times in the current campaign, including a resounding 4-0 victory in the Carling Knockout Cup.
In their last seven meetings across all competitions, Sundowns have claimed six wins.
Despite the daunting challenge ahead, Nabi urged a broader perspective, asking for his work to be judged within the framework of a long-term rebuilding strategy.
He also lightened the mood at the end of the conference with a joke aimed at the gathered journalists: “But I think you don’t want me to stay,” he quipped, drawing laughter from the room.
With pressure mounting and the spotlight firmly fixed on Saturday’s semi-final, Nabi’s future at Kaizer Chiefs could hinge on both performance and patience—on and off the pitch.
