Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi was left a deflated man after his side's 4-1 Bewtay Premiership loss to SuperSport United on Tuesday. Picture: Itumeleng English/Independent Media
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Media
Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has cited his side’s lack of recovery time in the wake of their crushing 4-1 thumping Betway Premiership loss to SuperSport United at FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Though Chiefs went a goal down in the third minute as Samir Nurkovic netted for SuperSport, the hosts levelled matters on the half-hour mark through a Makabi Lilepo strike.
That however, would signal the end of Chiefs’ resistance as SuperSport went ahead again two minutes later through Christian Sule.
SuperSport’s lead was extended to two in the 63rd minute as Gamphani Lungu made it 3-1. Five minutes later, Chiefs had Gaston Sirino receive his marching orders, and in the 83rd minute the final nail of the coffin was hammered down as Siphesihle Ndlovu scored SuperSport’s fourth.
“It was a very difficult game, and a very painful loss,” Nabi told SuperSport after the match.
Chiefs were involved in Nedbank Cup action on Saturday, as they beat Chippa United 3-0 at FNB Stadium, and Nabi said the schedule was behind his team’s lacklustre display against SuperSport.
“Obviously I'm not going to give excuses but they are excuses because we only had two days for the players to recover and they played an exceptional match. But unfortunately as I said we can't give excuses, but they are excuses.
“Yes, definitely when the body or the physique is not responding then everything falls apart like a castle of cards and yes, we conceded in the fourth minute and after 20 minutes we didn't have any reply and as I mentioned when the body is not right then definitely nothing goes well.
“Especially when the adversary had a week to recover and we only had two days, but it doesn't take away from the fact that they played a good game.”
It was the biggest defeat Nabi has suffered at Chiefs, and there was no avoiding that fact.
“It hurts, it's very painful but as I mentioned when the physique is not well you can see we gifted them the first three goals it was just giveaways.
“It happens, it happens to big teams. We must not judge the team only in today's performance.”