Kaizer Chiefs’ coach Nasreddine Nabi says he wants to protect his youngsters, and that’s why he's starting to blend them with the experienced players.
Nabi has his job cut out for him at Chiefs. He’s expected to rebuild the team while grinding out the results in order to end the club’s 10-year barren run.
He has, however, struggled to help the team find consistency as they have blown hot and cold, including missing out on the Carling Knockout, while they are sixth on the Betway Premiership standings.
However, there’s been a huge resurgence of youngsters as Mfundo Vilakazi (19), Mduduzi Shabalala (21), Samkelo Zwane (22), and Wandile Duba (20), have all shone.
Against Stellenbosch, last Friday, Nabi opted for a more mature approach as experienced players played a leading role, starting the game and coming off the bench.
That worked like a charm for Amakhosi as they won the game 1-0, courtesy of Makabi Lilepo’s goal early in the first half.
Lilepo is one of the three new players, which include Thabo Cele, and Tashreeq Morris, as Chiefs try to take the workload off the youngsters.
Nabi, speaking during his pre-match presser ahead of their Nedbank Cup last 16 clash against Chippa United at FNB stadium on Saturday (6pm kick-off), opened up on his recent approach.
“It’s true that we’ve (recently) played more experienced players. But in every process of building, you want to have experienced players, playing alongside the youngsters,” Nabi said.
“In the same breath, you must try to get results because the youngsters need to see that the level that they need to get to is not yet there.
“They must still work harder to reach a certain level. Let’s say (Gaston) Sirino or whoever else is going to bring up their performance.
“If they feel that their spot on the field is guaranteed then the players tend to relax, thinking ‘I am going to play because I am the best’. The level is then not going to improve.
“But right now, we have very experienced players who are bringing the level up, and that’s going to challenge the young ones.”
Nabi, though, reiterated that they still value the youngsters, who’ve been their best players since the start of the season. And that’s why they won’t put them on the side.
“It’s a big opportunity for them. The young players still need to feel important even if they don’t play as much as they’d love or like they have been playing in the beginning,” Nabi explained.
“We must talk to them and show them that this process is there to help them, not to hurt them or they are being forgotten.
“Sometimes if the player is not strong mentally, he doesn’t play for one or two games, then he won’t train well, and the level is going to drop.
“So we need to remind them how important it is to remember to be consistent at training so that if they are given even five minutes during the game they are able to perform.”