kaizer chiefs

Ernst Middendorp, coach of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership 2019/20 match between Supersport United and Kaizer Chiefs at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, on 04 January 2020 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Kaizer Chiefs: Middendorp not bothered by gains made by chasing pack

Almost every other team that is in contention for the title registered victory, while Kaizer Chiefs dropped points.

kaizer chiefs

Ernst Middendorp, coach of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership 2019/20 match between Supersport United and Kaizer Chiefs at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, on 04 January 2020 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Kaizer Chiefs can be forgiven for looking frantically behind them after dropping points over the weekend.

Amakhosi fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Maritzburg United over the weekend, while nearly all other contenders for the league crown gained some ground in their title pursuit.

Chasing pack closes in on Kaizer Chiefs

They find themselves only six points ahead of second-placed Orlando Pirates, who they face in their next league encounter.

However, coach Ernst Middendorp sees no reason to worry about what the chasing pack does at this stage of the competition.

“Personally, from my side this is not a situation where I am looking at the results – I don’t even know what was the result of Wits in the afternoon and now you mention Sundowns. I don’t know what the players are doing individually,” Middendorp told reporters on Saturday.

Ernst Middendorp

Middendorp not panicking after defeat

It was the third meeting between Chiefs and Maritzburg, and the second defeat suffered by the latter, who were also held to a draw in the reverse league fixture.

Having lost only three times in the ongoing season, the same number as Sundowns, the Glamour Boys are still in pole position to lift their first league title in five years.

Middendorp reiterated his assertion that the title chase will be tight, going into the business end of the season.

“I said it in November, January and February again that nothing is coming to an end because the final race of the championship will come into the last 10 games. It will not be decided today or two weeks or three weeks,” he explained.

“We also have a cup game and games are coming. It is not a situation where we should go into it and dream and finalise everything in February or March, that’s not football. It can be funny sometimes, be strong in your approach and perform and do your best. We go like before in terms of our form – the one moment has nothing to do with the other one.”

Ernst Middendorp

Chiefs next shift their attention to the Nedbank Cup, where they travel to Thembisa for a clash against Highlands Park at Makhulong Stadium on Saturday.

This is followed by the next installment of the Soweto Derby, which takes place at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 29 February.