MIDDENDORP NOT FIRED ’
Arrows, Cosmos hit the road I like that coach, says Chippa boss
GOLDEN Arrows and Jomo Cosmos have away games this weekend in the NFD as their battle for automatic promotion continues.
Leaders Arrows have the easier game against relegation-threatened Garankuwa United tomorrow eager to extend their three-point lead.
Garankuwa are second from the bottom on 13 points, and there ’ s very little chance of them upsetting Arrows. Garankuwa last won a game on November 29 and now have to face the leaders after suffering a 3-1 defeat to African Warriors last weekend.
Second-placed Ezenkosi are away from home for the second week running after they were beaten 3-1 by Arrows last weekend and will have to face Santos without suspended Ivorian striker Brice Aka, who has seven league goals this season. They can, however, still rely on Charlton Mashumba.
Mashumba has 10 league goals, five less than the
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Vuyokazi Nkanjeni CHIPPA United have denied speculation that Ernst Middendorp has been fired and replaced by Vladislav Heric despite being quoted by a daily newspaper as having done so yesterday.
In the report, owner Siviwe Mpengesi was quoted as saying: “I am not happy that the team is not getting results and we had to do something about it. The fans are also worried about our slump and I had no option but to find someone else who can turn our fortunes around.
“Middendorp is a good coach but results were not coming in. Heric is familiar with the set-up and has also worked with most of the players.”
Mpengesi yesterday claimed ignorance at the quotes attributed to him.
“I don’t know where that newspaper got my quotes, you can call and ask. All I know is that we have our coach, who is Ernst (Middendorp).
“The media has nothing to write about, so they are speculating. Middendorp is our coach and he is not going anywhere. He has a contract with us, you will see him at the club up until his contract expires. I like that coach (Middendorp),” he said.
Chippa chief executive Peter Koutroulis also ruled out the speculation.
“I don’t know anything about that. I was not informed. I don’t know where those people got that. Middendorp is still the coach of Chippa United, ” Koutroulis said.
The German is already the third coach at Chippa United this season following Kosta Papic and Roger Sikhakhane.
Over a period of three years, Mpengesi has changed coaches 10 times.