Former Kaizer Chiefs star Robson "Mashamplani" Muchichwa has commended new coach Nasreddine Nabi for acting smart in his interviews since touching down in South Africa to begin the latest chapter of his coaching career.
Nabi, notorious for winning trophies wherever he goes, has made it clear he does not expect that to be the case at the Glamour Boys this season.
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I is a statement that has not gone well with some of the club's fans as they expect the most-supported side in South Africa to at least finish in a CAF club competition spot this coming campaign.
The Tunisian-Belgian was brought in by management in an effort to bring back the glory days when a Chiefs loss was met with shock in every street corner of Mzansi, bus stops, train stations and in township taverns.
That the club's last piece of silverware was achieved in 2015, in the form of the league title, tells it all.
"To be honest, even me, I'm just expecting Chiefs to just compete. Winning something this season would be a bonus," says Muchichwa, in agreement with Nabi that a team that finished 10th one season shouldn't be regarded as title contenders the next.
"I'm just expecting them to improve from what they were last season, and I have a feeling they are going to compete.
"At Chiefs right now, we are not looking at finishing at a specific position. Yes, they do have a chance of winning something, but the coach is trying to calm down expectations and not put pressure on himself and the players.
"So, for me, he is going in the right direction. He just wants to compete, and when you compete, anything is possible. He is smart, and the Chiefs fans they have to accept it because he is not saying he is not going to try to win a cup.
"But what he is saying is it might not happen overnight.
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"I'm happy with how things have been happening at Kaizer Chiefs, I think the coach is being allowed to assemble his own squad."
The Soweto giants open their 2024/25 Betway Premiership campaign with a clash against elite division returnees Marumo Gallants in Bloemfontein on September 14.