Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has hit back at critics of his side’s pre-season results, insisting the games carried greater importance to prepare the team for a long season than just to focus on the score-line.
Amakhosi picked up four losses during their pre-season tour in the Netherlands, winning just once, and lost the Toyota Cup match – their official curtain raiser of the season – 3-2 on penalties to Asante Kotoko.
Amid the club’s lukewarm results, Nabi was quick to point out that he used the games in the Netherlands to lay foundations for a long season, which will include many midweek games and also long trips into Africa.
“We are in pre-season and the objectives of the pre-season are detailed and predetermined for everyone that knows our team,” he said when asked whether he is satisfied with Chiefs’ scoring three goals in six friendly matches.
“I give you an example, in Holland we play four games with teams from Eredivisie, first division, and one game against team from second division, which is a big team but has administration problems.
“The object of these games is not for result after 90 minutes. I already explained it to you [media], I know you are smart, but you want this question, you’re assisted by your colleague from Ghana, who asked me if it’s normal to lose in pre-season – I’m not sure if it interests the people in Ghana that in pre-season I lose.
“And you repeat… I’m sorry, but since when do we discuss results in pre-season games? I give you more information with all respect. You ask – ‘you lose, you lose, you lose’ because I know the media, I have a course, I know sports media, if you want to push the coach in one direction, push him…
“But as Kaizer Chiefs coach I respect you… You know in the Holland games, some games we play games one day after another, against teams from the Eredivisie, senior teams, not development teams.
“Some games we play after a day with two training sessions, morning and afternoon, the next day we play. If I want a result and to win it is not normal to have a program like that, but I don’t have because I know my job, I know what’s needed.
“All the people in the world know the object of friendly games is not the result. But I know you know this and thank you for your question.”
Chiefs open their season on 10 August, when they will travel to Stellenbosch FC, who finished in third last campaign.
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