Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has opened up about the discussions at halftime when the side were trailing 1-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns.
This after the Amakhosi trailed at halftime through a stunning free-kick from Teboho Mokoena, but rallied back through Wandile Duba and Ashley Du Preez in the second half.
It’s the Soweto giants first domestic final since 2019 and haven’t tasted a piece of silverware in the last ten years.
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“I think even in the first half it was a tactical half; at the beginning of the game, we said we’ll manage the first half. We know that Sundowns are physical after the game against Esperance and we knew that they can’t managed 90 minutes,” Nabi told SuperSport TV.
“I think after the 45 minutes, it’s very difficult and it’s a very bad time to concede when you go inside last minute of the first half. But believe me we said only one thing in the change room ‘this game is our game’ we have to win this game for the fans, supporters, everybody.
“We have to prove that we deserve to be in the final and I think we said to the players congratulations for the first half, but I was more than sure for the second half they will come good for the fans and make them happy. Congratulations for them,” added the coach.
The equaliser from Duba came from a defensive error by Lucas Suarez as the plan was to press Masandawana because of the risk they take by playing out from the back.
“I think the last two games against Sundowns we were unlucky that we did not score the opportunities we get, today the plan of the game was we needed to play deep we knew that Sundowns always like to find difficulty always.
“We knew that their centre-backs sometimes take risk and we tried to push to make trap, the first goal we make was when we make a trap. The second goal the ball in the deep and it was the plan of the game. But believe you me they start the second half with a goal and it made us believe we can win this game,” Nabi said.