Ex-Chippa defender Rae excited to work with an established coach
Former Chippa United defender Ryan Rae is excited to be working with an established coach like Ernst Middendorp at Maritzburg United, he said.
The 29-year-old player joined the Team of Choice this week after his contract ended with Chippa.
Rae made just seven appearances for the Port Elizabeth-based side since joining at the start of the season.
“[Maritzburg] has always been a difficult team to play against so I am happy to be part of the club,” Rae said.
“With the amount of respect I have for the club it has been phenomenal the way I have been accepted here so far.
“It’s a very professional club.
“Training starts on time, the guys are very professional in the way that they stretch and the way that they do things at training.
“I am excited to work with coach Ernst Middendorp.
“All the players I have played with and who have played under him have always told me that he is a great coach.
“He is always demanding, strict in his way, but also very enjoyable in his training sessions and in the match.
“If you do well in a match or even if you don’t, he will encourage you the whole time.
“So I have been very blessed to join such an established coach and I am very excited to work under him.”
Rae comes in at Maritzburg at a crucial time because the team is preparing to face Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup last 16 at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday (6pm).
The former Highlands Parks player said Maritzburg would not stand back for Pirates.
“Pirates are a tough team. “They are a good team and they have good players but I don’t think we should be afraid.
“We should go there and compete.
“We have great players here at Maritzburg United.
“There is a lot of experience and a lot of youth which I have seen and that is awesome because they have a lot of energy.
“So I don’t think we should be scared — we should challenge them and anything can happen.
“We just have to go forward and work as a team and come together.”