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Time at Naturena so far
You’ll probably find Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp sipping his favourite double shot of espresso in his private space and contemplating what more he can do to awaken the sleeping giant that is Amakhosi.
Summarising the time – three and a half months – he has been in charge at Naturena, it was clear that not all his players have woken up and smelt the coffee.
“Most of the players have really taken to the change very productively, but there are still some who haven’t eaten and processed it – and, of course, some need more time,” Middendorp said.
“We need our players to have an attitude of being prepared every day. I know how difficult it is to be confronted with a totally new style by the technical team. It’s not only me, [assistant coach] Shaun Bartlett has come in as well. But, going along, we have pumped energy into the team and challenged the players to fulfil the expectations.”
No player owns a position in the team
Middendorp insisted that “everybody has to work for their place in the starting XI. I even try to explain to the players using the philosophical quote from Albert Einstein, that if you always use the same input again and again, how can you expect different results?
“Of course, when an experienced player who has been playing in the team for more than four or five years finds himself not in the first 11, there are going to be issues,” he said.
Middendorp complimented those who had been bold enough to confront the changes and he made particular reference to star player Khama Billiat, who was recently left out on the bench.
“Billiat went the right way and said: ‘What’s going on here?’ It’s a compliment that even an experienced player accepts and respects this decision. We spoke about changes and he came back fulfilling the requirements from the technical team.
“In the beginning, I couldn’t deal with Hendrick Ekstein, but since he came on as a substitute in Madagascar [in the CAF Confederation Cup match against Elgeco Plus in December], he is in my starting XI portfolio.”
Door is not closed on experienced players
Eyebrows were raised when Middendorp started seasoned midfielder Willard Katsande from the bench in the Soweto Derby in September. The 33-year-old Zimbabwean international was then dropped from the team and returned after three matches.
“I like experienced players – Katsande, Rama [Ramahlwe Mphahlele], Bernard [Parker] or Itu Khune.
“But players like these have to take responsibility as leaders in the team in an effective way, and they are welcome to be in the squad any time.
“Players must also realise their fans have high expectations for the team to do well.”
Response to mixed reaction to his reappointmen t
“I needed the challenge because, for me, it’s a bit [of a rush of] adrenalin to go into a position like this,” said Middendorp.
The 60-year-old was animated about the team and his job.
“If you are a coach with passion, you want to be on the biggest stage; to coach teams like Kaizer Chiefs.
“The second part is knowing that there is a little bit of pressure to win something. If a coach says he doesn’t feel the pressure, it’s absolutely bull.”
No time to build Chiefs
“Whoever is in charge of a brand like this, you do not use words like asking for time or building. This brand has a reputation and expectations.
“If you are 19 like Ngosingiphile Ngcobo, it’s only about whether you are better than the other options and it doesn’t matter whether the other options are 28 or 29 years old.”
On his sudden calm demeanour
Middendorp has become the total opposite of the feisty character who used to yell at almost anything that moved on the pitch.
Instead, his assistant Bartlett does all the barking, while the German remains seated most of the time.
“I could say it’s a little bit of getting older, but that is not the case,” he said, attributing his change of personality to the two years he spent in Thailand as the technical director at Bangkok United.
“During my time in Bangkok, I had to live the culture on and off the field; a culture where there is no confrontation.
“I also interacted with high-quality businesspeople from big companies and we spoke about leadership – that to lead the group means being productive. You must be responsible and do it with respect.
“Even if you don’t like some stuff, just be relaxed and be calm and try to find solutions.”
Middendorp said his calm demeanour also had to do with working with the new generation of players.
Realistic target for Chiefs?
Middendorp reflected on the team’s last eight games with joy, saying the 15 points they hauled gave an indication of where Chiefs could have been.
“If you build a table of our games since January, it’s Cape Town City and SuperSport United on top, and Chiefs is third.”
This, he said, was based on comparison of points collected by all the sides above Amakhosi on the Absa Premiership table.
“I think four, five points could or should be on our league table account.”
Middendorp stopped short of blaming goalkeeper howlers that cost his side all the points in Amakhosi’s losses to Cape Town City and Mamelodi Sundowns earlier this year.
“Without pointing fingers at one position, everybody knows for certain that we threw away some points.”
Middendorp maintained that there were a lot of possibilities in the title race and his team was not giving up in their bid for a respectable finish.
He said Chiefs’ target was to win their league game against Baroka FC on Saturday at all costs.
“We’ll then wait and see how far other teams are struggling to give us a chance to come close.”
On Amakhosi’s chances in the Nedbank Cup
“You don’t need a mandate at Chiefs because it’s written in the reputation [history] of the club.
“It’s all about winning here,” said Middendorp as his team prepared to face Cape Town City at Mbombela Stadium this afternoon.
The game kicks off at 3pm.
