Chiefs coach remains coy about future

Kaizer Chiefs coach, Ernst Middendorp has opted not to talk about whether he will leave or stay on at the club following a last day collapse that saw his team lose the Absa Premiership title to Mamelodi Sundowns.

Having been top of the Absa Premiership standings the entire season, Amakhosi were toppled on the last day of league action after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Baroka FC while Sundowns leaped to the top and clinched their 10th title after beating Black Leopards 3-0 on Saturday afternoon.

“It is not my decision (to stay or go) but some people have already said so. I think at this moment we have to recognise that we are not winning games with the DNA of a big club,” said Middendorp.

The German mentor was left to rue missed chances as his side couldn’t get a second goal against Bakgakga that would have handed them the title. It had at some point looked good for Amakhosi especially after Khama Billiat opened the scoring and gave his side the lead going into the halftime break.

“Of course we had possibilities in our hands and being second after spending over 28 match days in first place, is of course disappointing. Congratulations to Sundowns and Pitso. That’s all I can say at the moment,” the coach said in a post match TV interview.

He said he had urged his players to go for more goals in the second-half having gone into the break leading 1-0 through Billiat’s goal, but Baroka came back the hungrier of the two sides as a draw for them would have meant they avoided relegation completely.

Strategically we had the dominance in the first half and we had a very clear discussion at halftime to push forward and look for the second goal. But, interestingly they sat back (and committed) foul after foul in dangerous positions. tHen it got to 1-1 and it becomes very difficult to play a team like Baroka (in that situation),” said the German coach.

Middendorp said the team’s second place finish this term was a huge improvement based on what transpired last season.

“It is obviously disappointing but on my side it is worth mentioning that we had a terrible finish last season, losing the cup and being outside the top eight. We turned it around but it was bad in the end that we didn’t achieve position one like we wanted to, but I accept it.”