South African giants make inquiry over Yanga coach

Nasreddine during a training session with his Yanga team. (Yanga Twitter).

FOOTBALL South African giants make inquiry over Yanga coach

Joel Omotto 16:38 - 10.06.2023

The struggling PSL club are believed to be exploring the possibility of swopping for the Tunisian tactician who has enjoyed success in Tanzania.

Yanga head coach Nasreddine Nabbi could be headed to South Africa following reports that Kaizer Chiefs have approached him to replace the under-fire Arthur Zwane.

According to South Africa’s national broadcaster SABC, Nabbi is being considered for the Glamour Boys job with support for Zwane believed to be wavering among the club hierarchy following an underwhelming season.

Chiefs finished fifth in the Premier Soccer League during the 2022-23 campaign that has just ended – an incredible 26 points behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns when they were expected to challenge and win silverware.

Amakhosi have not collected any major trophies since 2015 and have had six different coaches since Stuart Baxter won the league and cup double that season, before his contract ended.

Steve Komphela, Giovanni Solinas, Ernst Middendorp, Gavin Hunt, Baxter – in a second spell, and now Zwane all failed to end the drought.

Club legend Zwane, who was an assistant to the previous three coaches at Chiefs, signed a three-year contract 13 months ago.

The club has been mum so far about any possible changes or plans for the upcoming season, but it is clear there is some movement behind the scenes.

Nabbi has won back-to-back league titles with Yanga since joining in April 2021 and led them to a historic CAF Confederation Cup final before losing to USM Alger of Algeria last week.

The 57-year-old Tunisian hinted at leaving Timu ya Wananchi after the final, saying he is not sure of his future after what has been a fruitful campaign.

“At this moment I don’t know. It depends on the club’s strategy, what they want for the future of Yanga,” Nabbi told the media after last Saturday night’s match.

“What’s the plan, what’s the team? I don’t want to coach only for money and fame for people to call me professor Nabi, no, I want to win. This is the responsibility for Wananchi, it is not possible to take the team and you have no capacity to coach and win.

“To extend contract, maybe another coach is better than me in this moment for the future of Yanga. Maybe I cannot possibly give more now maybe in the future, but I don’t know,” he added.