Nasreddine Nabi, coach of Kaizer Chiefs, during the 2024 Toyota Cup match between Kaizer Chiefs and Young Africans SC on 28 July 2024 at TOYOTA Stadium in Bloemfontein
Sydney Mahlangu, Backpages
Coach Nasreddine Nabi is focused on having a tight, competitive squad of manageable players, the Siya crew has been informed.
Siya sources have indicated that the Tunisian coach doesn’t want to keep too many unhappy players who will not be playing as that could bring down the mood in the team. His target is to have a squad of at least 25 players and not more than that.
READ: Is Foster Worth 60 Times More Than ‘Undervalued’ Bafana Stars?
Insiders added that the coach has informed management that if he has a big squad, it should be a squad of 25 quality players who can compete at the highest level.
So, the technical team is understood to have proposed to loan out more players to create space for the 25-man squad.
“The coach has made it clear that he wants a solid squad which he can easily manage and keep those players happy and hungry. The management is currently working on how to trim down the squad to the size that the coach wants. He is believed to have indicated that he wants at the most a squad of 25 players so that they can all play and compete,” said the Siya source.
“The main thing that is delaying the decisions on these players are their contracts because even if they go on loan they have to agree on salaries whether from Chiefs or the clubs where they will be loaned out to. But by the end of September major decisions have to be taken to reduce the squad to the size that the coach wants,” the source added.
READ: Germany Or France: Latest On Mothiba’s Future
Meanwhile, a second source stated that the coach and his technical team have already submitted the names of the players they would like to keep and those who need to be either loaned out, sold or released.
“The list of both the players that the coach wants to use in the new season and those who are to be loaned out is ready. There are just a few consultations that all the involved parties are going through considering that they also still want to bring in at least two more players, a winger and a striker and that’s the hold up at the moment. But before the start of their league they will have finalised that. If other things don’t work out now due to time and logistics they will finalise them in the January transfer window,” the second source stated.
Soccer Laduma contacted Chiefs for comment on the squad, but there was no response at the time of publishing this story.
Chiefs’ PSL opening game is on the 14th of September against Marumo Gallants in Bloemfontein.
Stand a chance to win a Mamelodi Sundowns Home and Away Replica shirts for the 2024/25 season; valued at R1199 per shirt.
Get the best in Soccer, News and Lifestyle content with SNL24 PLUS
For 14 free days, you can have access to the best from Soccer Laduma, KickOff, Daily Sun, TrueLove and Drum. Thereafter you will be billed R29 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won’t be billed.
.