At the beginning of the current Betway Premiership season, many Kaizer Chiefs players expressed their happiness with the arrival of coach Nasreddine Nabi, noting that he had positively influenced their mindset towards the game.
However, as the season has progressed with less than stellar results, questions are now arising about the players' satisfaction with coach Nasredddine Nabi.
READ: Nabi: I Don't Like To Lose Because Of Referees
So, now, insiders within the club are discussing the players' contentment with both the coach and the entire technical team.
The Siya sources indicated that the players have shown strong support for coach Nabi and they are still eager to play under his guidance.
"If you look at the mood in the team on a daily basis, I think the last time you saw the players that happy with their coach was during the Ernst Middendorp time. The players are happy. With almost everything from the coaching methods to the conduct, from not just the coach, but the whole technical team to the fairness of team selection. You see at times even those who are not playing giving support to the others because they understand the situation. I think it's his openness that makes the players like him," said the Siya source close to the club.
A second insider stated that although it's hypothetically challenging to keep everyone happy, the majority of Amakhosi players are satisfied with the coach.
"Just like at any other work situation it's hard to keep everyone happy. But if 95 to 98% of the players are happy with the coach then how can you question his work ethics?" asked the second insider.
"He is also human and he has his own shortcomings but the chunk of his work is well done because he knows what he is doing with the players. These players always look forward to training because of how they are treated.
READ: Chiefs' Growing Injury Concerns Amplified!
"But I can't say the whole squad is 100% happy. I would be lying. That's how it is at work if you are a boss you can't impress or please everyone. But most of them are happy with the coach and that matters. They can play for him. It hurts them when they can't win but they can't bury their heads in the sand as the battle has to continue and one day things will fall in place and there will be no looking back," the second source observed.
Soccer Laduma contacted Chiefs for comment but the club did not respond by the time this report was published.
One of the positives from coach Nabi's tenure is the confidence he has instilled in young players like Wandile Duba, Mduduzi Shabalala, Samkelo Zwane, and Mfundo Vilakazi, who are now seeing more regular playtime.
