Eleventh defeat of the season! Nasreddine Nabi makes excuses after Kaizer Chiefs drop out of PSL top eight following Marumo Gallants defeat - 'It was because of the players that were absent'

Nasreddine Nabi has made excuses as to why Kaizer Chiefs suffered a 2-1 defeat to Marumo Gallants in a Premier Soccer League match at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.

Chiefs took the lead when Glody Lilepo scored in the 11th minute, but Gallants stood firm, equalised in the 41st minute through Matome Mathiane and scored the winner in the 80th minute when Daniel Msendani struck.

“Unfortunately, we were not our best. The most important thing is the result, and the result is not in our favour and we are in a very difficult position today, as well as our long-standing position is not very good, and it’s a difficult situation,” Nabi told SuperSport TV.

“I would say that in the first half, even before we scored the goal from Lilepo, we were not really good in the game. We lacked a little bit in leadership and a little bit of conviction in our offensive and defensive actions as well.

“Maybe it was because of the players that were absent – that didn’t give a good balance to the team. We feel that we had a lot of players coming back from injury, players that were absent. We feel that affected a lot the flow of our game, and as well, we feel like we were not very strong mentally because we were lacking a lot of easy things,” he added.

The former Young Africans head coach also explained tactical moves he attempted to try and beat Gallants.

“We tried to correct that in the second half; we got an opportunity to score the second goal—we missed that, and after that we conceded a goal," he continued.

“We finished the last 15 minutes with a back three and put in a second strike to try to put more effort into our offensive. We had a couple of opportunities, but we couldn’t score, and unfortunately that’s the reality of the game,” Nabi concluded.

The loss means Amakhosi have lost 11 games in the season so far and dropped out of the top eight.

The Glamour Boys are also winless in the last six games, and according to Nabi, the absence of some players is to blame. Gaston Sirino and Pule Mmodi, due to suspension and long-term absentee Rushwin Dortley were not available for the Tunisian tactician.

The defeat comes days before Amakhosi host Orlando Pirates for a league duel on May 3. This will be followed by a Nedbank Cup final set for May 10.

After battling their traditional Soweto rivals, the Glamour Boys will face Sekhukhune United on May 17 before a match against Polokwane City on May 24.