After dropping points against Royal AM at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi openly voiced his disappointment. He remarked that his players’ performance showed a lack of respect and professionalism, leaving him in disbelief.
In the first half, Chiefs were in control, netting two rapid goals from Ashley du Preez and Wandile Duba within just 13 minutes. However, they could not maintain their advantage, allowing Royal AM to stage a comeback.
Ayabulela Maxwele narrowed the deficit after Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen was caught off his line, revealing the team’s struggle to handle defensive situations properly.
Levy Mashiane leveled the score to 2-2 for Shauwn Mkhize’s team, skillfully lifting the ball over Given Msimango, who rushed out to clear, and then slotting it past Petersen during injury time, leaving Nabi astonished.
“What we saw was a clear lack of professionalism,” Nabi stated vehemently. “We had opportunities to score five or six goals in the first half, yet we squandered those chances. Sometimes it boils down to not functioning together as a team or allowing personal egos to overshadow the collective effort. If we fail to respect the game, it won’t reward us.”
Nabi specifically expressed dissatisfaction regarding Yusuf Maart’s missed chance in the first half, emphasizing that players should prioritize team success over personal achievements.
“We let far too many opportunities go to waste,” he lamented. “Post the 25-minute mark, it appeared that everyone was more focused on their own performances. This is unacceptable, and I addressed these concerns both on the pitch and during halftime. I highlighted the necessity of pushing for more goals.”
With the draw, Chiefs now sit in sixth place on the Betway Premiership table, having collected 11 points from seven matches.
