Bullish Nasreddine Nabi hopeful of causing Nedbank Cup setback against Orlando Pirates - 'I have experience for finals'

Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are set to meet on Saturday in the Nedbank Cup final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

This will be the third time the two teams will be meeting domestically across all competitions.

The previous two occasions have been in the Premier Soccer League, where Bucs won 1-0 and 2-1, respectively.

This will be the fifth consecutive Cup final for Nasreddine Nabi inside four seasons in three different leagues.

He won two Cup finals with Young Africans of Tanzania before falling with the same team in the Caf Confederation Cup against MC Alger in the 2022-23 season.

Last season, he reached the Moroccan Throne Cup final with AS FAR Rabat but was undone by Josef Zinnbauer's Raja Casablanca.

Nabi is keen on getting it right with Amakhosi this weekend.

“I think I have the experience for finals. You need a lot of self-control and calmness, and you can’t crack under pressure in such games. I understand how to approach it in every aspect ... tactically, psychologically, and also individually as a coach,” he said as quoted by Sowetan.

“We lost the final with AS FAR due to some small details, the game was finely balanced. In the last five seasons, this is my fifth final. Finals are not to be played, but they are to be won; that’s why it’s important to insist on the efficiency of the team in both ways, defensively and offensively,” Nabi concluded.

Apart from winning the Nedbank Cup, Nabi has not tasted a Soweto derby win, and will be hoping to get his first victory this weekend.

However, it will be a massive test for Nabi since Pirates want a three-peat and a decent sendoff for Jose Riveiro, who is leaving at the end of the season.