UPDATE: Kaizer Chiefs zeroing in on blockbuster head coach appointment

Chiefs have undergone a protracted search to appoint a permanent head coach since Molefi Ntseki’s sacking in November 2023.

READ: NEWS: Kaizer Chiefs are intensifying their search for a new head coach

Head of the club’s academy Cavin Johnson was named as the club’s new head coach on an interim basis, to see out the remainder of the 2023/24 DStv Premiership campaign.

The move failed to inspire as the Glamour Boys finished in 10th position, their worst-ever finish in a league campaign.

Following the end of the season, Chiefs’ efforts to appoint a new head coach intensified after sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr confirmed in April that a new technical team would be appointed.

According to a source, the poorly kept secret is that Tunisian coach Nasreddine Nabi remains the club’s outstanding candidate to take over the reins at Naturena.

A serial winner, Nabi garnered continental acclaim after leading Tanzanian giants Young Africans to consecutive league titles.

The 58-year-old then continued his impressive managerial record by leading new Moroccan side FAR Rabat to within one point of the league summit heading into the season finale.

The already protracted negotiations with Chiefs have been forced to be delayed with Nabi involved in a title battle, while also being involved in a Moroccan Throne Cup semi-final on 23 June.

Another obstacle in potential negotiations is Nabi’s insistence on appointing his own trusted technical staff.

While the Chiefs hierarchy, consisting largely of the Motaung family are insisting that long-serving assistant coach Dillon Sheppard retains his role as part of any new technical team setup.

This sticking point proves more significant than meets the eye as it is long known in football circles that owners often keep tabs on the inner workings of a coach’s methods and decision-making by having a trusted assistant as part of the technical team. This also makes it easier to influence decisions.

Even though there are many finer issues yet to be ironed out, which caused prior negotiations between the same two parties to break down.

Nabi remains the firm favourite with Chiefs looking likely to finally get their managerial appointment to challenge reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns and the emerging Orlando Pirates in seasons to come.