Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi dreaming of signing Mamelodi Sundowns superstar Lucas Ribeiro after Gaston Sirino arrival amid PSL Player of the Season debate - 'He is a player that every coach would dream to have in his team'

Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi remained coy when asked if Lucas Ribeiro Costa is already a definitive frontrunner for the PSL Players of the Season award, but pointed out that he admires the Mamelodi Sundowns star.

The Brazilian forward has displayed remarkable form this season so far. His outstanding performances have ignited discussions amongst local football enthusiasts, with some tipping him to become the PSL Player of the Year.

Ribeiro assisted the Tshwane giants in beating Nabi’s Chiefs to widen their gap on Orlando Pirates in the league standings after a hard-fought match at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.

Nabi was asked to share his view on who deserves this season’s Player of the Season accolade, and the Amakhosi mentor remained noncommittal; instead, he opted to confess he wishes to have Ribeiro in his team.

"It’s true that Lucas Ribeiro is a player that every coach would dream to have in his team because he is a difference maker," Nabi told the media.

"It’s good for the league as well to have those kinds of foreign players, because it allows the league as well to be more attractive to the sponsors and people who are watching [the PSL].

"And besides being a very good player, he is a very good human being, a very nice human ]being."

Ribeiro signed with Sundowns from the Belgian second-division team SK Beveren in July 2023 when Downs were still under the guidance of current Wydad Athletic Club head coach Rhulani Mokwena.

Since then, the 26-year-old star has been showcasing his talent. He managed to score 12 goals and provide six assists in the league so far this season for Miguel Cardoso’s star-laden team.

With Chiefs have signed players from Sundowns over the years, it remains to be seen whether Amakhosi would make a move for Ribeiro in the future.

The Soweto giants snapped up Gaston Sirino last year after the playmaker was released by Sundowns.

Ribeiro will be striving to increase his goal tally as Sundowns head to KwaZulu-Natal for their away league encounter against Golden Arrows at the Mpumalanga Stadium on Wednesday.

Conversely, Nabi’s beleaguered Chiefs will seek to bounce back to winning ways when they confront Magesi FC, who are battling to avoid relegation.