Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has clarified the substitution misunderstanding towards the end of the match in their Betway Premiership clash against Stellenbosch FC at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Glamour Boys, who were celebrating their 55th year anniversary milestone, rallied from a goal down to secure maximum points with a 2-1-win courtesy of youngster Wandile Duba’s brace in either half.
Speaking to the media post the match, Nabi simply clarified that they had to recall George Matlou’s introduction after both Yusuf Maart and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe flagged cramp issues to the medical team.
“First of all, I don’t think the word chaos is appropriate,” Nabi said via his assistant and translator Cedric Kaze.
“There was confusion at the end because there was some substitutions that were not planned. I can give you an example, [Mduduzi] Shabalala was going to come off, George Matlou was going to come in.
“As well, we were going to sub Shabalala and [Wandile] Duba. Duba he went out but didn’t come back.
“Before, to sub Shabalala, Yusuf Maart he complained about cramps and George Matlou was already ready to go on the field which we had to recall.
“We had to recall the substitutes which the bench, for example, the bench even Happy [Mashiane] he wasn’t gonna come in but TT [Thatayaone Ditlhokwe] he complained about the cramps.
“Which means, the staff, everyone is gonna need to do his job – One is going to ask TT if he can still continue. The other one, he needs to prepare Happy in case of TT cannot. The other one is going to recall the change that we had to make for Shabalala because now Yusuf Maart is not ready to continue.
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“And that’s what happened. It was not chaos. There was a little bit confusion due to injuries that were not planned,” he further said.
Chiefs next face Golden Arrows on Sunday, 12 January, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, with a win guaranteeing them a top four spot provided other results sway their way.
