Nasreddine Nabi Faces Historic Test as Chiefs Look to Avoid Double Defeat to Golden Arrows

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi could be facing an unwanted record in South African football history as he looks to avoid becoming the first Chiefs coach to lose both league games to Golden Arrows in the same season. If the Soweto giants fail to secure a win on Saturday at Moses Mabhida Stadium, it would mark a historic low for the club, with both of their league defeats to Arrows coming under the same coach.

Arrows, who were promoted to top-flight football in 2000, have never managed to beat Chiefs twice in the same season with the same coach at the helm. But with Chiefs set to visit Durban for the 15:30 kick-off, Nabi is on the brink of making that unwanted history.

The first league encounter earlier this season saw Golden Arrows claim a 1-0 victory at Moses Mabhida Stadium, a picturesque venue overlooking the Indian Ocean. A similar outcome on Saturday would mark a new chapter in the rivalry between the two sides, with the Glamour Boys already enduring one of their most challenging seasons in recent memory.

This season has already seen Chiefs suffer the ignominy of losing both home and away against Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United for the first time in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) era. In addition, they are also poised to finish the league campaign without a point against Orlando Pirates after losing the first Soweto Derby.

Historically, Golden Arrows have managed to defeat Chiefs on a few occasions, but never in the same season under the same coach. The most notable example came in the 2002/03 season when Arrows achieved the league double over Chiefs. Jainudeen Lakay’s solitary goal in October 2002 came under coach Muhsin Ertugral’s stewardship, while Mabhudi Khenyeza’s brace secured a 2-1 victory four months later when Doctor Khumalo and Ace Khuse were in charge.

After that, it wasn’t until the 2021/22 season that Golden Arrows managed another double over Chiefs, with Stuart Baxter overseeing a 1-0 defeat at home and Arthur Zwane suffering a 2-1 loss at the same venue. Chiefs finished that campaign in fifth place, with Arrows securing a rare double over one of the PSL’s most storied clubs.

Now, in 2025, Golden Arrows have the chance to repeat that feat, but for the first time in their history, they would achieve it with the same coach—Nabi—leading Chiefs through both matches. The result could be crucial for Chiefs, as they look to salvage a third-place finish in the league, but that will require a significant improvement in their performances.

A loss on Saturday would mark the 10th defeat of the season for Chiefs, a statistic that will be difficult for their supporters to stomach, especially with the club’s rich history and lofty expectations. With the pressure mounting, Nabi and his players will need to dig deep if they are to avoid making history for all the wrong reasons.