Middendorp unfazed by Pitso’s mind games

ERNST Middendorp flashed a smile so bright that for a brief moment it didn’t look out of place on the face of the usually grumpy German.

The reason for the smile? The compliment coach Pitso Mosimane gave him ahead of their encounter in Kaizer Chiefs’ Absa Premiership clash with Mamelodi Sundowns this afternoon at FNB Stadium.

“Jingles”, a master of mind games, praised the German for instilling tactical discipline in teams he has coached.

It was a well thought out compliment ahead of a duel that will test both teams’ discipline as they aim to start 2019 on a high.

“(His) compliment shows the respect that’s there in both directions,” Middendorp said.

“It’s always a pleasure to have a competitive match with a team led by coach Pitso. I enjoy it. Let’s wait and see. He has ideas, I have ideas.

“The knowledge we have over one another over the years makes this match interesting. I would say thank you to his compliment, I would like to give that compliment back.

“He has been in the business for years. He knows how to play this game (mind games) by complimenting the rival coach. I am 60 years old. I won’t get carried away by his words.”

This corresponding fixture ended in a draw in Pretoria.

There was more than three points at stake in the country’s capital.

Giovanni Solinas was managing Chiefs in their first match of the season then and was looking to start on a good note while the Brazilians were starting their league defence.

The stakes are also very high for this contest too. Sundowns are looking to keep their 25-match unbeaten run intact and cut the gap between them and log leaders Bidvest Wits while Amakhosi are driven to continue their upward trajectory under the German.

“We will go all out, from both sides,” Middendorp said.

The German is in a precarious position. His appointment was met with scepticism from the club’s supporters due to his conservative nature in the past and his unsuccessful stint in his first spell at Amakhosi.

He is also carrying the baggage of his predecessors, Steve Komphela and Solinas, who failed to bring a trophy in three seasons.

To make matters worse, Middendorp was thrown in the deep end in the middle of the season with a squad he didn’t assemble but has to deliver on the onset as he doesn’t have the luxury of time.

“It’s one of the skills you get with experience,” Middendorp said in response to why he isn’t fazed by coming in the middle of the season and being asked to deliver from the get-go.

“I have done it several times, even with Bundesliga teams. I did it twice with (Arminia) Bielefeld, taking over with the team in a critical situation.

“I did it at Bloemfontein Celtic, coming over in October in 2013. I did it with Golden Arrows, who had five games remaining, knowing that you have to win three of those five games or else the team will be relegated.

“I have done it in China with Changchun (Yatai), not knowing the environment and I had to put them in a good position in the second half of the season.

“When you have done this several times, you know where to look, what to improve and how to approach it. Another advantage here is that I know 80 percent of the players.”