Kaizer Chiefs face season opener without coach Nabi and star winger Mmodi

KAIZER Chiefs may have won the Nedbank Cup, ending their 10-year trophy drought, but after finishing ninth in the Betway Premiership last season, they need to hit the ground running this term.

Last year’s lowly, disappointing finish caused soccer fans, Chiefs supporters, and other enthusiasts to call for coach Nasreddine Nabi to be sacked.

However, the management decided to retain the Tunisia-born coach, backing him with adequate preparations and squad depth.

But with their season kicking off on Sunday, the Amakhosi faithful will get a taste of what it will be like to be without both their coach and winger Pule Mmodi ahead of their season opener against Stellenbosch.

Fans will remember that Mmodi was red-carded during the last match of last season, meaning he is, therefore, suspended for the Stellies game. However, he will return on Wednesday against Polokwane City.

Amakhosi’s clash with Stellies at the Athlone Stadium on Sunday follows on the back of an announcement the team made on Friday, when they announced that Nabi will not be on the touchline due to family emergency.

“We regret to inform our supporters that Coach Nasreddine Nabi will not be traveling with the team to Cape Town for our opening game of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season against Stellenbosch FC this Sunday. A critical accident involving his wife has occurred at his home in Tunisia, prompting the coach to travel this evening to be with her and the family,” Kaizer Chiefs said in a statement.

But, despite his hasty departure, the coach had discussions with the technical team to prepare them for the game. 

The club announced that in Coach Nabi’s absence, first assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef and second assistant coach Cedric Kaze will be on bench for the Stellies clash.

The club also called on supporters to keep the coach in their thoughts, as they wished him well for the challenges he and his family are currently facing.

“Kaizer Chiefs would like to extend its best wishes to Coach Nabi and his family during this challenging time. We ask all supporters to keep them in your thoughts and prayers,” the statement concluded.