Nabi Reflects on Vitesse Defeat, Highlights Key Lesson for Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has weighed in on his side’s narrow pre-season defeat to Dutch outfit SBV Vitesse, pointing out one key area where the hosts had the upper hand. While the result may have caused concern among fans, the Tunisian tactician believes it served its purpose in preparing Amakhosi for the challenges ahead.
Chiefs kicked off their pre-season tour of the Netherlands with a 2-1 loss to Vitesse on Tuesday. The match, streamed live by over 150,000 fans on the club’s official YouTube channel, featured two different line-ups as Nabi rotated his squad across both halves to evaluate players and formations.
Despite the loss, Nabi remained composed, stressing that the outcome was not the primary focus.
“It’s all about the objective we have set out for our pre-season,” he told the club’s official website. “We trained very hard the last few days, which was very tough for the players physically. So, I am not really worried about the result of this pre-season training match.”
Nabi was pleased with the first-half performance, where Chiefs dominated possession and created scoring opportunities. He noted that his side could have extended their lead had they been more clinical in front of goal. However, he admitted that Vitesse edged them in one specific department.
“In the second half, they played aggressively — too aggressively, I felt,” he said. “But that was also a good lesson for our players — how to deal with this kind of aggressive display from an opponent.”
While fans were quick to voice their disappointment online, Nabi urged patience as the squad continues to build towards peak fitness and tactical cohesion. “It’s more about seeing all the players in action and trying out different formations,” he said. “Overall, I am happy with what I saw tonight.”
Kaizer Chiefs will now shift their focus to their next pre-season test, a clash against Dutch top-flight side FC Utrecht on Friday. With more matches to come, Nabi will be hoping to fine-tune his squad ahead of a crucial season where expectations are high for a turnaround in fortunes at Naturena.
