Under-fire Nasreddine Nabi hopeful that Nedbank Cup triumph will buy him more time at the helm of Kaizer Chiefs - ‘It is going to help me continue my process’

Kaizer Chiefs finally ended their long trophy drought by lifting a major cup, bringing joy to their loyal fanbase.

After years of disappointment and near-misses, the club finally tasted silverware again.

Nasreddine Nabi fulfilled his promise of delivering a trophy, showcasing the cup pedigree he built at his previous clubs.

Chiefs showed resilience and determination throughout the tournament to clinch the title.

This was the third meeting between the Soweto giants this season, with Jose Riveiro winning the two previous league encounters.

However, this time Nabi turned the tables and got the one that mattered most.

The Tunisian tactician admitted that this triumph will buy him time and patience from the supporters and management.

He believes the victory is just the beginning of a long-term process to return the club to its former glory.

"My first objective for the club is to place Kaizer Chiefs back in its natural position. I'm happy for this trophy because it is going to help me continue my process, and it is going to give the fans a lot more confidence in this project," said the Tunisian tactician, as reported by iDiski Times.

"Orlando Pirates understood how important it is to build your team. If you looked at how they played today and how they played last season, you would realise that they are a completely different team.

"That means, sometimes, you don't want to get things right away, you need to give time to rebuild and to allow yourself to suffer and to rebuild to be better," explained Nabi.

"We started well in the second half, but we believe that the changes we made with Mthetwa, du Preez, and Shabalala gave us more energy and more balance to get back into the game, and to establish more control in the game.

"It's been a tough ten years, and you could see that everyone wanted to win it so bad," concluded a satisfied Nasreddine Nabi.

For Nabi, the season has been filled with highs and lows.

Winning a trophy offers him credibility and momentum despite inconsistent league form.

He will need to build on this success with a clear project and vision for next season.

The pressure is slightly lifted, but expectations remain high from fans and the board.

Nabi sees this as a foundation to restore Chiefs as one of the continent’s top clubs.

Chiefs now have two league matches left to try and secure a top-eight finish.

They face Sekhukhune United and Polokwane City, both tricky fixtures with high stakes.

A strong finish could provide a morale boost qualification for MTN8.

Nabi will also be evaluating players ahead of a critical off-season rebuild.