Whether or not Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi is buying more time, his tendency to ask for 'quality players' in the media could be affecting his players, according to club legend Tsepo Masilela.
Nabi has been vocal to the media and his previous post-match interview after a 1-1 draw against TS Galaxy, was even more clear that he needs players of the quality befitting Chiefs.
The Tunisian coach's assessment is not a new and surprising observation but making those comments when the team just had a bad game could be a way of passing the buck to the management and also to the players.
READ: Nabi Outlines Chiefs' Hopes
However, if the former AS FAR Rabat is a good coach, there is no argument that Amakhosi has players he can work with and he should be improving the team without mentioning that he needs more quality players, as his statements in the media could also be affecting his dressing room, according to Masilela.
"Once a coach opens with a tune to say he needs more players, maybe it affects the guys mentally, that 'Oh the coach doesn't really trust us', it might be that psychologically it affected the players," Masilela said on SoccerBeat YouTube.
"All we're hearing is he needs players but can the coach improve the current team that he has, maybe to top five? I believe the squad that he has, maybe not win the league but surely top five, he should be operating in that space of top five."
READ: Nabi Countdown Has Begun At Chiefs?
The former Bafana Bafana defender went on and asked why Chiefs can't compete with teams such as Stellenbosch, who finished third last season and won a trophy without the so-called big name players and have continued to remain in the top five.
"When you look at Stellies, they sell players and they keep going. There's no cry of 'We sold five, six players' they go buy, promote, keep going. The coach that they have understands, he knows how to get the best out of those players. Their coach gets the business done, quietly. But when you look at Chiefs, I still believe maybe this thing of they need more players is starting to get to the guys and is affecting their game," the former Maccabi Haifa left-back added.
Chiefs will be back in action for the last time this calendar year when they host Chippa United on Sunday evening at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
