Nasreddine Nabi Rushes to Tunisia Following Family Emergency
Just days before Kaizer Chiefs were set to kick off their much-anticipated Betway Premiership campaign for 2025/26, the club was thrown into the spotlight for unexpected and personal reasons. On Friday, August 8, news broke that head coach Nasreddine Nabi would be flying urgently to Tunisia. The reason? A critical accident involving his wife at their family home.
The statement from Amakhosi couldn't have been clearer. "We regret to inform our supporters that Coach Nasreddine Nabi will not be traveling with the team to Cape Town for our opening game of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season against Stellenbosch FC this Sunday. A critical accident involving his wife has occurred at his home in Tunisia, prompting the coach to travel this evening to be with her and the family."
The club shared that Nabi's return will depend entirely on when his family situation stabilizes. Right now, Chiefs fans are left hoping for the best, sending well-wishes to Nabi and his family through social media and fan groups across the country.
Assistant Coaches Step Up Amid Season Opener Pressure
The absence of a head coach at the start of the season isn't something you see every year, especially for a team with a lot to prove like Kaizer Chiefs. To keep the ship steady, first assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef and second assistant coach Cedric Kaze are set to be front and center at Athlone Stadium when Chiefs face Stellenbosch FC. According to the club, Nabi worked closely with the technical team in the hours leading up to his emergency trip, laying out plans for how to approach their opening game without him.
That's no average task. Last season, Chiefs finally broke their 10-year trophy drought when they lifted the FA Cup, which brought a sense of relief and fresh optimism for millions of loyal supporters. Yet, despite that silverware, they still finished outside the league's top eight—a sore spot for a club with such a rich history. So, the pressure to start the new season strong couldn't be higher, especially with a new coaching staff at the helm, at least temporarily.
Kaizer Chiefs fans are watching closely, not just because of the team sheet, but because of what’s going on behind the scenes. There’s already chatter on local soccer shows and social media about possible underlying issues between Nabi and club management. Word is, Nabi and top Chiefs officials haven’t always been on the same page, especially after the less-than-impressive preseason and the team's performance in the Toyota Cup. It's said that a recent meeting between the coach and management didn’t end well, with disagreements over how to guide the team this season.
Even though the club’s official statement focused only on the family emergency, the rumors don’t seem to be going away any time soon. People close to the situation expect deeper talks about Nabi’s future at Chiefs once he returns to South Africa. For now, the club is asking supporters to rally around the coach and his family during a seriously tough moment.
As for the immediate future, all eyes turn to Ben Youssef and Kaze. They know this isn’t just another game—it’s a test of leadership, resilience, and unity for a team desperate to climb back to the top. Chiefs supporters are holding their breath, hoping the team can block out the noise and focus on what matters most: starting the new league campaign with a win, while wishing Nabi and his wife strength in their hour of need.