The Tunisian has found the going rather tough in his first season at Naturena, and may even be losing certain sections of their fan base already due to unsatisfactory results.

As Chiefs get ready to host Orlando Pirates in a Betway Premiership clash at FNB Stadium tomorrow, Nabi – speaking through his translator Cedric Kaze – says they may be ill, but not dead.

"We say that the biggest clubs can get ill but they never die – and we believe that we are the biggest club in South Africa," said Nabi.

"Probably at this time we might be a little bit ill, but we believe we're still alive and we can still do something."

Despite having last won a league encounter on 4 March, the former AS FAR coach says they have as much chance of winning the Soweto Derby as their opponents, who edged them 1-0 in their last meeting in February.

"If Kaizer Chiefs wins this Derby on Saturday, it's not going to be a surprise – if Orlando Pirates wins the Derby, it's not going to be a surprise as well," he added.

"Those are the two biggest clubs in South Africa, and despite our current log standing, we believe two big clubs will play on Saturday, even if we are not in a very good position. But we feel that whoever wins on Saturday, it's because he has deserved it."

READ: Matlou advocates for Nasreddine Nabi continuity at Kaizer Chiefs

Finished Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy