Cape Town Spurs coach Ernst Middendorp says his side need to strengthen their squad to stand a better chance of surviving relegation. Image Source: (@CapeTownSpurs/Twitter)
Middendorp compares ‘difficult’ Spurs job to Chiefs
Upon his unveiling as new Cape Town Spurs coach, Ernst Middendorp says the job is difficult and compares it to that of Kaizer Chiefs.
Cape Town Spurs coach Ernst Middendorp says his side need to strengthen their squad to stand a better chance of surviving relegation. Image Source: (@CapeTownSpurs/Twitter)
Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp says his job at Cape Town Spurs is difficult and he can compare it to the one at Naturena.
The seasoned German mentor was unveiled by the PSL strugglers on Friday afternoon and his mission is to save the club’s top-flight status.
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Middendorp addressed the media after he was announced, he looks at why the task will not be easy and states why it is similar to the one at ex-employers, Chiefs.
The South African understands that Middendorp has signed with the Urban Warriors, Spurs on a two-year deal with the club.
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MIDDENDORP COMPARES DIFFICULT SPURS JOB TO CHIEFS
The nomadic manager, Middendorp was linked with Sekhukhune United and some reports suggested he could return to Naturena, but he opted for Spurs.
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“If you work with a team, which finished position nine and they believe they should be champions and you have only one year time to make it happen, obviously you have to compete for the championship, it’s a very difficult task,” Middendorp said per iDiski Times.
“You work in the second Bundesliga, two teams are fighting to be promoted to the Bundesliga, and every Monday morning you not in position one or two you get told ‘position three, four, five is a relegation position’.
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“You go into a team in KwaZulu-Natal in November, where you have one point after 11 games, you must make it happen, you have to win so many points to stay in the league at the end of the day…
“It’s all different situations, you cannot compare one with the other one, this is a difficult task there’s no doubt about it and let’s leave it like this.”
MIDDENDORP’S MANADATE IS TO SAVE SPURS
The former Maritzburg United and Free State Stars mentor is now expected to hit the ground running and move Spurs away from the relegation zone.
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Spurs have three points from 11 games next to their names as their only name came against Orlando Pirates in the DStv Premiership.
“Now it’s about really to use every minute to find first what’s the assessment, what can be the impression from my side, from all of us,” adds Middendorp.
“And then to look into how and what’s important. There are areas of improvement, where you believe or everybody should stick to it, to say ‘ok, in these areas’, for example critical phases, for example defensively, number of goals you concede should not happen, and, and, and…
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“Using the chances at the end of the game with a penalty, shoot it not to the crossbar, shoot it into the net.
“You really have to produce a certain energy with the players, and that’s what we have to do.”
His first assignment will be against Royal AM on Saturday, November 25.
