Chiefs coach Middendorp just happy to progress

by Graeme Jackson

Monday Jan 28, 2019. 13:00

Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp said he was happy to see his side progress into the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup after a difficult and hard-earned 1-0 win over minnows Tornado FC on Sunday.

The Amakhosi were expected to easily brush aside the challenge of the Eastern Cape club, who play in the ABC Motsepe League (third tier) and are not even fully fledged professionals.

Yet Chiefs needed extra time to win the match 1-0, and the decisive strike was an own goal from Abongile Twani.

Despite the unimpressive showing from his team, Middendorp insists that the result is all that matters.

“We are definitely pleased about going to the final 16, it was definitely our obligation, let’s take it from their side. Compliment to the opposition, they are structured and effective,” Middendorp told SuperSport after the match.

“We are aware that we have a certain issue about finishing from a distance out of the second line, we’ve seen it in the first half and second half. But good, we’re working on it.

“We tried, the discipline, keeping the unit. It was okay but the final ball definitely not happy with it. In the end it is qualifying that counts.

“With so much to be done the players had to put a lot of capacity in terms of training. But I can understand, it was quite complicated. It’s a process, we have to be successful. We had to qualify.”

The Chiefs boss was also pleased that the game saw some of his fringe players and others returning from injury gain some playing time.

“Personally, I saw it with Sundowns. This is something you want to see, the ambition. I’m aware about it, players like Rama [Ramahlwe Mphahlele] 45 minutes he’s out,” added Middendorp.

“Gustavo [Paez] was on the field, [Dumisani] Zuma has not played in a long time. [Siphelele] Ntshangase has not played in a long time. We have to bring them in to help us in the season. From this side I’m definitely happy we qualified and that’s it.”