No bad blood from Ernst
GRACIOUS: FORMER CLUB CONDEMNED TO THE BOTTOM THREE
Ernst Middendorp may have been grinning like a Cheshire Cat inside, but on the outside he was gracious in victory as Maritzburg United picked up a 2- 0 DStv Premiership victory at Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday.
The German was sacked by Amakhosi at the end of last season, but returned to the top fl ight with the Team of Choice after they dismissed Eric Tinkler, and United have already found some form, this their second league victory in a row, and one that saw them jump above Gavin Hunt’s struggling Chiefs on the log.
Middendorp immediately referenced the difficulty Chiefs had for this match, on the back of a long trip back from Angola after Tuesday’s win over Primeiro De Agosto that saw them qualify for the Caf Champions League group stages.
“We had a complete week to prepare, they had a bit of a handicap of the team travelling to Angola, and not really being recovered. You could see it in the beginning, you have to be honest, but it is part of the business if you want to play locally and internationally. It came to our advantage, you could see the freshness was not ther,“Middendorp told SuperSport TV after the game.
Hunt was less keen to use tiredness or a weakened squad as an excuse, pointing at poor defending for both of Judas Moseamedi’s second half goals. Chiefs had to use Darrell Matsheke alongside Njabulo Blom in central midfield as they were without any other options.
“Macheke was good…but we gave a big effort on Tuesday (in the Champions League), and we couldn’t change it (the team), we didn’t have anything else. But no excuses…we have to be bigger, tougher and stronger. I thought for both goals we were a bit weak. It wasn’t really a 2- 0 game, but that is what it is,” said Hunt.
Chiefs don’t have long to lick their wounds with another league match on Wednesday at Benni McCarthy’s AmaZulu.
Hunt’s side are in serious relegation trouble a third of the way into the season, with their Champions League qualification currently his only real saving grace.