Nasreddine Nabi responds to nay-sayers following Kaizer Chiefs' struggles in friendlies - 'Since when do we discuss results in pre-season? I know my job & what’s needed'

Kaizer Chiefs have had decent preparations ahead of the 2025/26 Premier Soccer League campaign.

They camped in the Netherlands, where they played five friendly games against top teams.

On Saturday, they played Asante Kotoko in another top-tier friendly game staged at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

In the Netherlands, Chiefs lost four out of the five matches they played.

The Glamour Boys opened their campaign with a 2-1 loss to Vitesse, which was followed by a 4-0 defeat versus FC Utrecht.

Amakhosi claimed a 1-0 win in their third game with FC Zwolle in match number three, but fell by the same margin against NEC Nijmegen.

The Netherlands' pre-season ended with a 2-1 defeat to Twente.

Last weekend, they fell 3-2 on penalties against Asante Kotoko in the Toyota Cup after a goalless draw in regulation time. Nevertheless, there is no cause for concern, according to coach Nasreddine Nabi.

“We are in pre-season and the objectives of the pre-season are detailed and predetermined for everyone that knows our team,” the tactician responded when asked about Amakhosi's struggles in front of the goal, where they have three in six outings.

“I give you an example, in Holland we play four games with teams from Eredivisie, first division, and one game against a team from the second division, which is a big team but has administration problems.

“The object of these games is not for result after 90 minutes. I already explained it to you [media], I know you are smart, but you want this question, you’re assisted by your colleague from Ghana, who asked me if it’s normal to lose in pre-season – I’m not sure if it interests the people in Ghana that in pre-season I lose," Nabi continued.

“And you repeat, I’m sorry, but since when do we discuss results in pre-season games? I give you more information with all respect. You ask – ‘you lose, you lose, you lose’ because I know the media, I have a course, I know sports media, if you want to push the coach in one direction, push him.

“But as Kaizer Chiefs coach, I respect you. You know, in the Holland games, some games we play games one day after another, against teams from the Eredivisie, senior teams, not development teams.

“Some games we play after a day with two training sessions, morning and afternoon, the next day we play. If I want a result and to win, it is not normal to have a program like that, but I don’t have one because I know my job, I know what’s needed.

“All the people in the world know the object of friendly games is not the result. But I know you know this, and thank you for your question," Nabi concluded.

Nabi knows he has no option but to deliver in the new season, where he will be competing domestically and abroad.

So far, the club has signed six players, but the tactician says he will bring in other players to strengthen before the transfer window closes.