Have Nasreddine Nabi's Kaizer Chiefs finally turned the corner after their impressive Nedbank Cup semi final victory over Mamelodi Sundowns?

Chiefs’ season looked to be dying a slow and painful death only a few weeks ago, but suddenly, Nabi’s side was resuscitated following their remarkable semi-final win over the Sundowns. 

That win not only meant they avoided a fourth loss against Sundowns in the same season, but it also meant there is silverware to play for as the campaign draws to a close.

A near decade-long trophy drought could well come to an end next month when Amakhosi meet arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

While Nabi’s early days at the helm offered glimpses of potential, Chiefs’ season has been marked by inconsistency as they have so far flattered to deceive.

Much of that could well be because his players have not had an easy time adapting to the coach’s tactics and methods, which is almost always the case with a new project. 

As much as the results have not come with the consistency the Tunisian might have expected, his team’s performances have been encouraging for the most part. 

Their performance against Sundowns was an indication that although Nabi might not have all the right ingredients yet, he could still produce something edible for the Amakhosi faithful.

Chiefs reaching the final of the Nedbank Cup with the shock victory against Sundowns means they have, in all likelihood, qualified for next season's Caf Confederation Cup.

With Chiefs’ Nedbank Cup final opponents Pirates, all but guaranteed a spot in the Caf Champions League thanks to their high chances of finishing in the top two in the league, Chiefs will go into the Confed Cup.

It will be the Soweto giants’ first sojourn back into continental football since reaching the 2020-21 Caf Champions League final, where they lost out to Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly.

This, in addition to them reaching the cup final, has put some gloss on Chiefs’ season as they will have achieved something they failed to in the previous campaign.

Chiefs are in their first domestic cup final in six years since the Nedbank shock to then-first division TS Galaxy at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

Regardless of how Chiefs fare in the league from now until the end, Nabi will have the opportunity to make amends with a trophy at the end.

Should he succeed, the ex-AS FAR Rabat mentor will have ended a lengthy trophy drought that the likes of Stuart Baxter, Ernst Middendorp, Gavin Hunt, Arthur Zwane, Molefi Ntseki and Cavin Johnson could not.

Nabi will also hope for a big push in the remaining league games as his side look to finish in the top eight and qualify for next season’s MTN8, a trophy they could not contest this term.

Despite his team’s struggles in the league this season, Nabi has been consistently confident that it’s just a matter of time before he brings the glory days back to Naturena.

The former Young Africans coach has been adamant that he could change Amakhosi’s fortunes amidst the current rebuilding phase, despite the growing pressure.

The support of his bosses at Naturena has been a huge driving force as they have even backed him publicly, with Chiefs’ Football Manager Bobby Motaung stating the coach would be going nowhere.

He has also been given backing in the transfer window where the club has signed competent players like Thabo Cele and Glody Lilepo, among others, with more to come in the next window - surely.

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