Kaizer Chiefs legend Siyabonga Nomvethe defends Nabi and blames players for SuperSport United defeat - 'The coach is not the one playing, it's the players who are on the pitch'

Former Kaizer Chiefs forward Siyabonga Nomvethe has come to the defence of Amakhosi head coach Nasreddine Nabi, asserting that players ought to have stepped up after a significant loss to SuperSport United.

The Soweto giants suffered a shocking and demoralizing 4-1 defeat to Gavin Hunt's side during a Premier Soccer League match at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening.

While many faulted Nabi for the defeat, former Bafana Bafana player Nomvethe criticised the Chiefs players for their lack of effort during the game.

"4-1? That's a bad scoreline for such a big club. This is not good. It doesn't matter if your opponent had more time to rest than you. Chiefs have other players who can step in for those who are tired, so there shouldn't be excuses," Nomvethe said, per Kickoff.

"It's the players' responsibility to win games for the club. If you are afforded an opportunity for game-time, you must make the most of that chance. Everyone deserves to play, and everyone has to earn their keep. If you fail to seize that opportunity, it means you are not taking your job seriously.

"A human body does need to rest. Yesterday's result shows just how much work still needs to be done at Chiefs, especially up front. It's not bad overall, just some minor adjustments needed," he added.

"The coach is not the one playing, it's the players who are on the pitch. If you want to achieve something as a player, you should grab your with both hands."

Chiefs were struck hard by their former striker Samir Nurkovic and their loaned-out player Christian Saile, who each netted a goal, along with Siphesihle Ndlovu and Gamphani Lungu also scoring on the night.

The Naturena-based giants' consolation goal was scored by the club's new acquisition, Glody Lilepo. Nevertheless, after the match, Nabi defended his players, claiming they were fatigued even before taking the field.

With just 12 games remaining for Chiefs in the 2024/25 season, it may be crucial for Nabi and his players to change the club's fortunes quickly in order to excite their fans.

The Phefeni Glamour Boys are presently in sixth place in the PSL standings, having accumulated 25 points. They have lost seven games, drawn five, and triumphed in seven matches.

Chiefs will have at least a week to prepare for another challenging test, which is a league encounter against PSL reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday, March 1.

The Glamour Boys were initially set to take on Royal AM before  Downs match, but that game has since been postponed due to legal issues involving KwaZulu-Natal team boss Shaun Mkhize and the South African Revenue Services.