Mashiane: coach guards against burnout

Kaizer Chiefs supporters may have been disappointed when exciting youngster Happy Mashiane (right) didn’t return for the second half during last Saturday’s Absa Premiership Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium, but coach Ernst Middendorp has explained that it was more important to manage the 21-year-old than to please the fans at his expense.

Mashiane had some deft touches that had the fans excited and whistling every time he had the ball but he was replaced by Philani Zulu at half-time.

“Promoting a player is not about just adding squad numbers,” said Middendorp after the match. “We have in the last two months promoted (Siphosakhe) Ntiya-Ntiya who was hardly part of the set-up. He is a regular now. We also promoted Happy and he is regularly in the starting lineup. I can say now already that he will start the next game (against Magic FC in the Nedbank Cup),” said the coach.

“But we have to manage them – that’s the normal way. Sometimes 45 minutes is enough, sometimes 60 minutes. But you have to put them in. Games like this are intensive by nature and (while) you can express yourself you have to be mindful that you don’t get carried away.

“That is something that can show you how far the mindset of the player is in certain moments.

“He played well, he did his job, but as the technical team it is our job to observe him and give him the right number of minutes. I am happy with his performances so far,” added the coach.

Middendorp also protected his midfielder Pule Ekstein and said he was one of the best players he has ever worked with despite the 28-year-old carelessly losing the ball which led to Pirates’ equaliser in the 1-1 draw.

Just as Amakhosi were looking to defend their lead with 10 min- utes to go, Ekstein lost the ball, allowing Ben Motswari to find Thembinkosi Lorch with a fine pass which the latter complemented with an even better finish to force a share of the spoils.

“Hendrick is an outstanding player,” said Middendorp after the match. “He’s not a youngster anymore. He is 28 if I’m not mistaken. And this is definitely somebody who can carry the team with his ideas and the (good) stuff he does regularly.”

“But it happens (in football), unfortunately. What could we have done? We could have corrected it, and that’s part of the team’s work. We could have closed off the space and been a bit more alert and nothing would have happened.

“It’s unfortunate that it happened, but for me he’s an outstanding player and one of the best I’ve ever worked with,” added the coach.