Middendorp sure team can survive season
CHIPPA United will have a month’s break to rejuvenate and refocus on their bid to avoid Premier Soccer League relegation.
The Chilli Boys were thumped 3-0 by Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday night, extending their winless streak to 12 matches.
The break comes courtesy of Bafana Bafana as they are scheduled to play two international friendly matches against Swaziland (March 25) and Niger (March 29).
Chippa United coach Ernst Middendorp says the break will be used to prepare his team for the final sprint of six matches.
The club’s next game will be against struggling Moroka Swallows at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in four weeks’ time.
The German coach is convinced that the Bay-based PSL side will survive and be in the Premier Soccer League next season.
“At the moment, it’s my family . . . Chippa United. I amgoing 24 hours all out, seven days a week inside and outside the club, doing whatever is necessary. I can see the players feel it. This is our chance and we will get it.
“It is now a belief, in terms of scoring and movement forward. Being more layered and a better mindset in the beginning – that is what we have to work on and make it a success in the final six games.
“I’ll say it again: we will make it at the end of the season and if we as Chippa United stay in the league despite everything that is happening around us, we can feel like champions at the end of the day.
“The positive atmosphere is getting better and better by the day – the confidence and commitment, having faith and trust in each other.”
Since being in charge , Middendorp has delivered only three points from a possible 21 in seven matches – all in the form of draws. The Chilli Boys have dropped to 12th place in the league with 25 points from 24 games and are dangerously close to the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, unlike his predecessors, Middendorp bought himself time at Chippa United long before signing his six-month contract to replace Roger Sikhakhane in January.
Aware that club chairman Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi was a trigger-happy boss, Middendorp said he warned him of the string of poor results in the second half of any Premier League season.
As far as the coach is concerned, the chairman will not grow impatient with this disastrous run of form.
“We have a very clear understanding on what our targets are. I made it very clear that the main target, in fact the only target, for a team coming into the PSL was to secure its status to still be here next season,” he said.
-Vuyokazi Nkanjeni
