Middendorp arrival secures Mathoho’s Chiefs future

Despite a lack of game-time, which has been worsened by an ankle injury he suffered last month, Kaizer Chiefs defender Erick Mathoho will not be in a hurry to look for a move elsewhere.

A Siya source has indicated that with the arrival of coach Ernst Middendorp at Naturena, the nature of any discussion over the players’ future would have changed.

Mathoho saw very little action competitive action during coach Giovanni Solinas’ spell, before the Italian had his Amakhosi contract terminated early due to poor results - on December 7. Solinas had used Mathoho sparingly, with the towering defender having played in only four domestic league games under his mentorship.

Having made his way back into the team at the end of 2018, ironically it was the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round clash away to Tanzania’s Zimamoto where Mathoho tore his ankle ligament. The club subsequently confirmed that he would be sidelined for up to three months. That puts March as the date for his possible return to action.

While Solinas was in charge, the 28-year-old was being linked with an exit. At the time, Siya sources indicated that the player and coach did not see eye-to-eye. However, Siya sources have now made it clear that there will be a clean slate with Middendorp and he will be in a position to fight for his place in the team.

Given that his contract only expires in June of 2020, it would take a serious interest from rival clubs to lure Mathoho away from Chiefs.

The Siya crew has been informed that the player remains “very much in the club’s plans” at this point in time and still hopes to also revive his international career.

Mathoho hasn’t played for Bafana Bafana since his red card in a World Cup qualifier away to Cape Verde in September 2017.