Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi admits the gulf in experience between his side and Mamelodi Sundowns is quite evident.
Chiefs were hammered 4-0 at FNB Stadium this past weekend in the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final at the hands of the reigning league champions.
Sundowns fielded eight Bafana Bafana players, alongside Peter Shalulile, Lucas Ribeiro Costa and Marcelo Allende in the starting line-up.
While Chiefs had five players U23 and younger, which was telling as Masandawana cruised to victory at the Calabash.
“I think we can all agree that Sundowns is a very good team with [great] experience, both locally and on the African continent,” Nabi said.
“It’s true that Sundowns is a very good team but we believe that our players can learn if they play… sometimes they make mistakes. But it doesn’t make sense if you play with such a big club, in such an atmosphere, to be scared and try to play a game that’s not yours.
“With these games, this kind of performance, our young players will learn and improve because we choose the way of playing, depending on the players we have because there they can show their technical abilities, they are young and skilful.
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“These players need experienced players to help them grow which is an area that we need to work on in the future.”
Chiefs now turn their attention back to the league where they host Richards Bay at the end of the month at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on 27 November (19h30).
