It is Chiefs turn to shine

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Nkosingiphile Ngcobo (above) is planning to enjoy his side’s showdown with former head coach Ernst Middendorp, when Amakhosi take on Maritzburg United in the DStv Premiership today.

“It will be fun to play against Ernst Middendorp, our former coach. We will be ready for him and his team,” Ngcobo told the Chiefs website this week.

Middendorp was fighting for the title with Amakhosi last season, but never really endeared himself to the club’s supporters with Chiefs’ style of play in his second spell with the club, and lost out on the championship to Sundowns on the final day of the campaign.

That was apparently the final straw for Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung, who sacked Middendorp and appointed Gavin Hunt.

Chiefs, however, have failed to get going domestically under their new mentor and today’s game is actually a bit of a surprise basement-battle.

Eric Tinkler failed to build on a top eight finish with Maritzburg last season and was sacked after a dreadful start to the new campaign, with Middendorp taking over for a third spell with the Team of Choice.

The German did guide United to their first league win last Saturday, as they beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1, with Thabiso Kutumela getting both goals.

Hunt has also won just one league game in eight with Chiefs, who are currently only two points ahead of Middendorp’s 15th-placed team.

No doubt the Team of Choice coach would love to get one over the side that dismissed him, and leap above them in the table.

Chiefs did beat Maritzburg 2-1 in the MTN8 quarterfinals at the start of the season.

“We managed to beat them in the MTN8 quarterfinals which tells us that it is possible for us to win if we work as a team and fight for each other. We need to be prepared to face a difficult opponent,” added Ngcobo.