‘Even Pep Guardiola would fail at Kaizer Chiefs’

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The Kaizer Chiefs job isn’t for everyone. Nasreddine Nabi is finding out the hard way, but he’s not the first or the last. Could Pep Guardiola win trophies there?

Kaizer Chiefs are kissing many frogs but when will they find a prince?

Since Stuart Baxter won Amakhosi’s last piece of silverware in 2015, the club has made 11 separate appointments. Steve Komphela, Patrick Mabedi, Giovanni Solinas, Ernst Middendorp, Gavin Hunt, Arthur Zwane, a return for Baxter, a return for Zwane, Molefi Ntseki, Cavin Johnson and now Nasreddine Nabi have all been at the helm. None have delivered league title success to the demanding fans at Naturena.

Even Pep Guardiola “would fail at Kaizer Chiefs” one fan wrote in a comments section on The South African. Is that fair? Does it illustrate the enormity and ‘lose-lose’ nature of the task?

The legendary Pep Guardiola isn’t having a great time in 2025

Manchester City’s season could be imploding in front of Pep Guardiola’s eyes. They have to turn around a 3-2 deficit against holders Real Madrid to reach the last 16 of the Champions League. It’s a tall order against an embattled team addicted to success, and it’s at the Bernabeu nogal. Pep is human after all. City are pretty much out of the Premier League title race, 16 points adrift of leaders Liverpool and likely to relinquish their grip on a crown they’ve worn four years on the bounce, and six times in the last seven seasons. This season’s FA Cup might be City’s most realistic shot at silverware.

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Manchester City celebrate after scoring in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Image: EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN

Back to basics for Kaizer Chiefs?

Everyone at the club needs to be more realistic about their expectations. Yes, Chiefs are a massive organization with a huge following around the continent. However, their last credible title push came in 2019-2020 when they lost out on the league crown by two points. Their last taste of success was in 2015.

Selling Ditlhokwe is a bold move

Recently back in favour under Nasreddine Nabi, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe’s surprise and abrupt exit to Al Ittihad in Libya begs a few questions about the club’s decision-making in the transfer market. R15.9 million is decent money, but the Glamour Boys should be retaining players of his talent and versatility.

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Thatayaone Ditlhokwe in action for Kaizer Chiefs against Cape Town City at the DHL Stadium. Image: FootballSA/Facebook

Do you think the Chiefs job is cursed?

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