sportskeeda
Kaizer Chiefs’ head coach Nasreddine Nabi has been tight-lipped regarding the fitness of Thabo Cele and Inacio Miguel as they prepare for their Nedbank Cup semi-final clash with Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Stadium this Sunday.
Miguel sustained a late injury in the 1-1 draw against TS Galaxy during the Betway Premiership match at Peter Mokaba Stadium last weekend, raising doubts about his participation in the upcoming match against Sundowns, who have triumphed over Chiefs three times this season across different competitions.
Meanwhile, Cele suffered an injury in their loss to Golden Arrows two weeks ago at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. The defender from KwaMashu was substituted before halftime and missed the subsequent match against Galaxy.
“I will address the statuses of Cele and Miguel, but not at this moment,” Nabi commented, as the pressure builds.
The Nedbank Cup represents Kaizer Chiefs’ last opportunity to claim a trophy and end a decade-long drought. Their last significant victory was the league title in 2015 under Stuart Baxter, while their latest Nedbank Cup win dates back to the 2012/13 season.
While Nabi emphasized that team development is his main priority this season, he did not dismiss the possibility of clinching the Ke Yona Cup, acknowledging its significance for the club.
“You say there’s pressure if we lose this game, but I don’t feel that pressure,” he stated.
“Every match brings its internal pressure. However, as I’ve mentioned before and will say again, there is a process in place. This is the first year of a two-year plan, and we are here to build our team.
“Nonetheless, if we have the opportunity to win a cup like this one in the semi-final, we will strive to secure it for the fans and the board.
“This isn’t just a dream; we always aim to win trophies because we are a prestigious team, Kaizer Chiefs.
“Every season, in every competition, winning is expected. But as I said, there’s no pressure; we are committed to our process.
“When we spoke with the board, we recognized that we are in a two- or three-year phase of team building.
“After this time frame, we aspire to have a team ready to compete in the [CAF] Champions League, for league titles, and other trophies. But right now, we remain focused on our process, as I’ve reiterated.
“If we manage to win this trophy, it would be tremendous for us and boost confidence for the players, the board, the fans, and the technical staff.
“However, if we do not win the trophy, we must keep pushing forward.”
