Stop making excuses! Nasreddine Nabi slammed as Tunisian coach decries lack of quality in Kaizer Chiefs squad - 'Stellenbosch sell players every season but they don't cry'

Former Kaizer Chiefs left-back Tshepo Masilela has urged coach Nasreddine Nabi to utilize players who are available to build a strong team and eliminate excuses.

The Soweto giants have found it challenging to secure wins consistently under the 59-year-old manager, who has insisted that he requires higher-quality players to change the club's fortunes.

Nevertheless, Masilela has asserted that Nabi should refrain from using his current players as a shield for his difficulties, saying he is killing their confidence by criticizing them constantly.

"Once a coach opens with a tune to say he needs more players, maybe it affects the guys mentally, that 'Oh the coach doesn't really trust us', it might be that psychologically it affected the players," Masilela said on SoccerBeat YouTube.

"All we're hearing is he needs players but can the coach improve the current team that he has, maybe to top five? I believe the squad that he has, maybe not win the league but surely top five, he should be operating in that space of top five.

"When you look at Stellies, they sell players and they keep going. There's no cry of 'We sold five, six players' they go buy, promote, keep going. The coach that they have understands, he knows how to get the best out of those players," he added.

"Their coach gets the business done, quietly. But when you look at Chiefs, I still believe maybe this thing of needing more players is starting to get to the guys and is affecting their game."

Chiefs acquired seven new players, including former Mamelodi Sundowns star Gaston Sirino and Njabulo Blom, amongst others during the off-season after Nabi's arrival.

However, the Glampur Bpys have blown hot and cold as they ended the year 2024 with a win over Chippa United on Sunday - snapping a three-match winless run in the PSL.

Chiefs have gathered only 15 points from 10 matches this season, securing four victories, three draws, and experiencing three defeats.

The Chiefs can now aim for the PSL title and Nedbank Cup trophies, as those are the only trophies still available this season.

However, clinching those titles appears highly unlikely considering that Orlando Pirates and Sundowns are also targeting the two trophies.

Nabi expects to strengthen his team in the forthcoming January transfer window, with the club interested in several prominent players, including Oswin Appollis of Polokwane City.