‘Art wars’ in the PSL!
Middendorp has go at Mokwena over Bucs coach’s ‘Mona Lisa’ comment
Temperatures are already rising for Soweto derby Mark II at the FNB Stadium this weekend‚ with Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp taking a dig at Orlando Pirates counterpart Rulani Mokwena about his “Mona Lisa” statement.
Chiefs notched another Absa Premiership win‚ 2-0 away against Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday night.
The result extended Amakhosi’s lead at the top of the log and was made more impressive by Middendorp resting much of his first team ahead of Saturday’s second sold-out derby in a week against Pirates at the FNB Stadium.
Asked about Chiefs’ now seven-point lead over secondplaced Mamelodi Sundowns‚ Middendorp slipped in a dig at Mokwena.
Pirates’ coach had said after this past Saturday’s Telkom Knockout quarterfinal derby at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium‚ won on penalties by Chiefs‚ that he had at times felt like “Picasso admiring the Mona Lisa”‚ in praise of his team’s football.
“I’m not really interested in this‚” Middendorp said in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday night‚ responding to a question on Chiefs’ lead.
“I know that just with the number of games we’ve played so far we haven’t even reached halfway in the season yet by far.
“I’m not talking about how tactically superior each and everybody is.
“How somebody paints some pictures‚ or painting out of the Renaissance‚ or talking about a Spanish painter or an Italian artist.
“I try to figure out what’s good for us to get points.
“Now it’s a very crucial moment to find the right combination for the weekend.
“I know that Bidvest Wits have games in hand.
“Other teams have games in hand.
“And at this moment don’t use too much mathematics.”
Middendorp‚ known for his cantankerousness‚ has the ability to rub fellow PSL coaches the wrong way.
His relationship with Bucs’ 32-year-old caretaker-coach Mokwena had appeared to get off on the right footing‚ as the Pirates boss professed respect for Middendorp’s technical ability last week ahead of the past weekend’s derby.
Mokwena‚ though‚ appeared ungracious in his postmatch statements‚ when he claimed Pirates were the “one team on the field”‚ when in fact‚ Chiefs had dominated play going to 2-2 by the end of extra time in an exciting TKO quarter. Middendorp then took a dig at Mokwena’s Picasso statement on Facebook on Monday‚ posting that it was Leonardo da Vinci who painted the Mona Lisa.
Mokwena replied in Pirates’ post-match press conference to their 0-0 draw against Maritzburg United at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night that his statement had referred to Picasso admiring‚ and not painting‚ the Mona Lisa.
“Art wars” in the PSL — who could have predicted such a thing?
Meanwhile, the PSL has confirmed the dates‚ venues and kickoff times for the semifinals of the 2019 Telkom Knockout.
Lamontville Goldern Arrows welcome Mamelodi Sundowns at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in the first semifinal on Saturday November 23.
Coach Steve Komphela’s charges will be aiming to reach their first-ever Telkom Knockout final while Sundowns will be bidding to qualify for their first final since winning the competition in 2015.
Kickoff at the Sugar Ray Xulu in Durban is at 3pm.
Kaizer Chiefs‚ who last won the Telkom Knockout trophy in 2010, and lost out in the final in 2015‚ host Maritzburg United at the Mbombela Stadium the next day.