‘We’ll push to improve the quality and correct the negatives’ - Nasreddine Nabi remains upbeat despite Kaizer Chiefs’ Toyota Cup loss to Ghana’s Asante Kotoko

After a goalless 90 minutes at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, 26 July, Asante Kotoko clinched victory via penalties, with Inacio Miguel also missing a spot-kick during regulation time.

Despite the defeat, head coach Nasreddine Nabi believes there were key positives to build on, and areas that need fixing, as Chiefs look ahead to the 2025-26 season.

“I think it was a game that was very instructive… with the performance, we came with a lot of answers with what we have been working on and what we need to do going forward, it was a positive performance overall,” Nabi told SABC Sport.

“We had the opportunity to win the game, during the game, we missed it. We had the opportunity to win the game on penalties, we missed it – unfortunately we wanted to finish with offering our supporters, the victory and finish the day with joy. But unfortunately on penalties it can be unpredictable.

“The support was very positive, we’re going into the right direction from the physical side, but we need… we’re in the last week of pre-season, we know the negative points, for this game was very important for us to see that,” he added.

“Where the problems are, where the quality is and we’ll push to improve the quality and correct the negatives. But I have satisfaction for some points today,” he concluded.

The Glamour Boys recently wrapped up their pre-season tour in the Netherlands, where they faced Vitesse, Utrecht, NEC Nijmegen, PEC Zwolle and Twente.

Nabi’s side managed just one win from five matches, a 1-0 victory over PEC Zwolle.

The domestic season kicks off with the MTN8 competition on the first weekend of August, but Chiefs will not be involved after finishing ninth last season.

This gives Nabi and his team extra time to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the Premier Soccer League campaign.