Don’t be so negative, says Motaung
Fan fury at Chiefs coach
Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung has brushed off the sharp criticism that greeted the club’s decision to reappoint Ernst Middendorp as a coach a few days ago.
The German coach’s unexpected return to the coaching seat he unceremoniously vacated in March 2007 sent social media into a frenzy on Friday but Motaung insisted that there would have been some negativity even if they had appointed José Mourinho or Sir Alex Ferguson to the seat.
“I always [prefer] to focus on the positives‚” he said
“If it was not going to be negative‚ we would not be alive and we would not be running this business.
“We expect negativity and this puts us properly in line with what we want to achieve.
“We do expect that even if I bring Mourinho I will get negativity‚ even if I bring Sir Alex Ferguson they will say he is old‚ he’s this and he is that.
“There would be criticism everywhere. So we welcome all the negativity and like the coach [Middendorp] says‚ the results will show.”
The former Maritzburg United‚ Lamontville Golden Arrows‚ Arminia Bielefeld‚ Chippa United and Bloemfontein Celtic coach was working as technical director for Bangkok United in Thailand when Chiefs came calling.
He rejoined Chiefs on a twoand-a-half year contract after the club sacked Italian Giovanni Solinas on Friday.
Motaung said they have maintained contact with the German over the years and they began discussion about a return to Naturena two weeks ago.
“For us we are more comfortable bringing back Ernst back because we have experience with him‚” said Motaung.
“We know his pedigree and his work ethic. We never parted ways in such a matter that we could not even talk – we have been commentating over the years.
‘”Even when he was with other clubs we were communicating with him as our policy is not to fight with our coaches and to part ways amicably when things are not working out. But I think he is back home now.”
The notoriously fiery mentor will have to win the Chiefs fans over as they resorted to violence when they wanted him out during his first spell as coach.
A defeat to then relegationthreatened AmaZulu in March 2007 proved to be the final straw.
The relationship between the coach and the supporters had been stormy since Middendorp arrived at Chiefs in June 2005.
The fans disagreed with Middendorp’s selections from the start and they often questioned why their favourite players were regularly played out of position.
But Motaung was hopeful that the fans would be patient with the coach.
“Even the issues of the past‚ our supporters are very forgiving I know‚” he said.
“Our supporters love the club and they will support the club positively. ‘The past is gone now – I mean 2007 and 2018 is a big gap.” —