Kaizer Chiefs’ goalkeeper Brandon Petersen has rubbished claims that the squad preferred playing under assistant coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze rather than former head coach Nasreddine Nabi. The suggestions surfaced following Nabi’s departure from the Soweto giants.
Nabi has returned to Tunisia and confirmed that he has parted ways with the club. However, Chiefs have so far remained tight-lipped about the details surrounding his exit.
Chiefs Start Season Strong Despite Nabi’s Absence
The Premiership champions enjoyed a perfect start to the Betway Premiership season, winning all three of their opening games while Nabi was away. His absence was due to a serious road accident involving his wife, which required him to return home.
Petersen was quick to dismiss any suggestion that the team’s performance improved because of the assistant coaches. “It has always been the same whether Nabi is here or not,” he told reporters at the Carling Black Label Knockout launch at FNB Stadium on Monday.
He added: “It’s a conspiracy to say players enjoy the assistants more. Our focus is to respect whoever is in charge and do our job, which is to play football and listen to the coaches.”
Also read: BREAKING: Kaizer Chiefs and Nabi Go Separate Ways
Nabi’s Departure Coincides with First League Defeat
Reports of Nabi leaving Chiefs emerged shortly after the team suffered their first league defeat of the season, a 3-1 home loss to Sekhukhune United on 16 September.
Ben Youssef and Kaze stepped in, having previously managed the squad during Nabi’s suspension last season. Their first game at the helm this term ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat to Kabuscorp of Angola in the CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round, first-leg tie in Luanda.
Kaizer Chiefs Face Busy Week Ahead
The Soweto giants will have an important week ahead, starting with a Premiership clash against Marumo Gallants at FNB Stadium on Wednesday. They will then look to overturn the deficit against Kabuscorp in the return leg of the Confederation Cup tie.
Defensively, Chiefs will aim to rediscover the solidity that saw them keep five consecutive clean sheets during the early stages of the season. Despite recent setbacks, Petersen stressed that the squad must remain composed.
“There’s no need to panic or start doubting ourselves,” he said. He continued: “We’ve already shown we’re capable of performing well and keeping clean sheets. Now, it’s about analysing our mistakes and using Wednesday’s game as an opportunity to correct them.”
Unity and Professionalism Key for Amakhosi
Petersen’s comments reflect a sense of unity and professionalism within the squad, suggesting that the players are focused on football rather than off-field distractions.
As Chiefs navigate this period of transition, their ability to combine tactical discipline with individual talent will be crucial in maintaining their competitiveness in the league and on the continental stage.
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