Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has clarified why he decided to substitute Pule Mmodi in the 37th minute during their 4-1 loss to SuperSport United. Despite speculation that the decision was tactical, Nabi insists it was not.
Chiefs had a difficult night against Gavin Hunt’s SuperSport side, suffering a heavy defeat and allowing Matsatsantsa to complete a league double over them. Mmodi’s early exit raised eyebrows, especially since the score was still 2-1 at the time. Mduduzi Shabalala replaced him, and many questioned the reasoning behind the change.
Speaking after the match, Nabi explained that Mmodi was struggling and not performing at his usual level. He also admitted that, given the chance, he would have substituted several other players.
“It was not necessarily a tactical change,” Nabi said. “We noticed that most of the players were not in the game. If I had the chance to substitute six or seven players, I could have done it.”
He further stated that Mmodi’s recent performances had been demanding, and fatigue may have affected his play. “I could see that Mmodi has given a lot in the previous game, and today, from the early minutes, it was clear he was not at his best and looked tired,” the Chiefs coach explained. “But as I said, if I could change six or seven players, I would’ve done so.”
Chiefs now have some time to regroup before their next fixture. They will return to action on 1 March in a crucial match against Mamelodi Sundowns. After back-to-back struggles, Nabi will be hoping his team can recover and put in a much-improved performance.
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