Tick tock, tick tock! The clock is winding down as the announcement of the new-look Kaizer Chiefs technical team, which Nasreddine Nabi will spearhead, is edging ever so close and imminent.
The long-awaited shakeup and, hopefully, revitalisation of the sleeping Soweto giants, Amakhosi, arguably the greatest club in South African football, is on the horizon.
Chiefs have already welcomed two members of their technical makeover. Assistant coach Fernando Da Cruz and goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi are in Mzansi to shake things up.
Even some Chiefs legends such as Lucas “Rhoo” Radebe and Stanton “Stiga” Fredericks have reacted to the news and are confident that the incoming coach and technical team will bring back the glory days to the Glamour club.
“I think with a coach like Nabi, I heard that he is bringing his technical staff. It will be a huge responsibility to get the club back to where it belongs,” Radebe said recently.
“Nabi is a good acquisition and surely we will see a change in Kaizer Chiefs next season, not just the glory but the fans as well.”
With Amakhosi in full swing for pre-season, this is all you need to know about the Kaizer Chiefs’ new technical team.
Fernando Da Cruz (assistant coach)
Fernando Da Cruz is the first technical team member to land in SA after a video of him being welcomed by Kaizer Motaung Jnr at OR Tambo International Airport last week circulated on social media.
Da Cruz is a Uefa Pro Licence coach who has vast experience in European and African football. The Frenchman has previously worked with France Ligue 1 side Lille, Belgian side Mouscron, and, more recently, Rabat in Morocco as a technical director.
Khalil Ben Youssef (assistant coach)
Currently the assistant to Nabi at Moroccan outfit AS Far, Khalil Ben Youssef is expected to slide in as the second assistant coach.
Ben Youssef is known to be a familiar figure in Nabi’s technical team, having previously worked with the Tunisian tactician during their stint with Tanzanian giants Young Africans, where he served as an analyst.
Ilyes Mzoughi (goalkeeper coach)
Mzoughi is also said to have been to Naturena already and is ready to hit the ground running in his new role as Amakhosi goalkeeper coach.
Mzoughi brings experience from coaching the Mauritania national team and several clubs across Africa and the Middle East.
It is yet to be seen if the 50-year-old will work alongside seasoned veteran goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, whose contract is running out in a matter of days the coming days.
Majdi Safi (strength and condition coach)
Majdi Safi is a highly experienced strength and conditioning coach who will play a crucial role at Amakhosi. Safi has previously worked with top players in Africa at Raja Athletic Club and Wydad Athletic Club.
During the last season, under the guidance of fitness coach Muzi Maluleke, Amakhosi experienced difficulties with injuries, and many players were identified as being ‘heavy’ and ‘overweight’.
Ayman Makroud (performance analyst)
Ayman Makroud is a young first-team performance analyst for AS Far and the Morocco national team who is tipped to form part of Nabi’s backroom staff.
Makroud has analysed top matches for the Moroccan national team and will be a pivotal member of the Amakhosi technical team.
Nasreddine Nabi (head coach)
The main man, Nasreddine Nabi, will probably be the last to arrive due to his commitments with his current club. Nabi guided AS Far to the Moroccan Throne Cup final, where he will meet league champions Raja Athletic Club led by former Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer.
Nabi comes to South Africa with loads of experience and knows his way around African football, having had stints with Sudanese side Al Hilal, Yanga, and now AS Far.
The Tunisian is also known to be a man on the move and one who acquires success in every club he goes to.
He won back-to-back domestic trebles in Tanzania with Young Africans SC in June 2023.
His preferred formation is the flexible 4-2-3-1, which provides defensive stability and offensive firepower that balances the team well.
