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Nabi demands better finishing against Royal AM

rugby29 November 2024 14:36| © Backpage TXT
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Wandile Duba © Gallo Images

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi is hoping to see more efficiency from his team in the final third when Royal AM visit the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 7:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

The Glamour Boys arrested a three-match winless run in Betway Premiership with a 2-1 victory over Richards Bay at the same venue in midweek courtesy of goals from Wandile Duba (21') and Ashley Du Preez (68').

It was Nabi's third win in the league since he took charge at Naturena in the off-season, but he was far from happy with Amakhosi's finishing against the Natal Rich Boys.

Chiefs moved up to sixth in the standings and they are in a three-way tie with Sekhukhune United (7th) and Golden Arrows (8th) on 10 points with a marginally better goal difference.

Thwihli Thwahla suffered their third defeat of the campaign on Tuesday after squandering an early lead to lose 3-2 to local rivals Golden Arrows in Pietermaritzburg.

Kick-off was delayed by two hours due to Abafana Bes'thende's late arrival at the Harry Gwala Stadium after their team bus was stuck in traffic and the hosts got off to a flying start once the match finally got under way, with Sibusiso Magaqa opening the scoring in the third minute.

However, Motebang Sera was sent off on 71 minutes and John Maduka's side were unable to hang on for the share of the derby spoils after Xolani Ngcobo's own-goal in the 86th minute condemned them to a second successive loss.

Maduka admitted they will miss the suspended Sera for the trip to Polokwane this weekend, but sees it as an opportunity for someone else to step up in his absence.

WHAT WAS SAID:

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi

"The efficiency in the final third needs more work. This (finishing) is a big problem for the team, not only in this game.

"Maybe against all the teams [we have played] we created too many opportunities without scoring. Maybe it is confidence... but we will work hard on this in the future.

"It is not because we win, this is the Chiefs level. The objective (at Naturena) is very high. I think mentally it is good. But Chiefs before was the level of [Siphiwe] Tshabalala and Doctor [Khumalo]. It is not like it is today."

Royal AM head coach John Maduka

"Yes, it is a blow for us. He's (Sera] one of our key players. Losing him is a problem for us, but it's also an opportunity for the other players to raise their hands and grab the opportunity."

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Kaizer Chiefs - Yusuf Maart was outstanding against Richards Bay, bossing the midfield and setting up Duba and Du Preez with two delightful assists.

The 29-year-old midfielder should have opened his account for the season in the 80th minute after being played into space by Du Preez on the counter, but he could only find the side-setting.

Royal AM - Xolani Ngcobo had a fantastic game against Arrows and was unfortunate to concede an own-goal late on after the ball bounced back off him as Zukile Mkhize attempted to clear it off the line.

The 31-year-old goalkeeper made several crucial saves and was not at fault for either of Ryan Moon's two goals earlier in the second half.

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