Former head coach Ernst Middendorp has revealed startling revelations on how his Kaizer Chiefs side dramatically lost out on the DStv Premiership title on the final day of the 2019/2020 season.
Chiefs led the league standings for the entire season but were pipped to the title in dramatic fashion by rivals Mamelodi Sundowns as the title race went down to the final day after being held to a dramatic draw by Baroka.
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Middendorp had astonishingly transformed Chiefs from mid-season misfits in the previous campaign from a lowly ninth position to title challengers the following season.
The German was brutally sacked at the end of the season as Sundowns lifted the title by two points to leave Chiefs fans heartbroken with hopes of finally ending a trophy drought.
“There is obviously a chapter about that,” Middendorp tells KickOff
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The revealing book details the German tactician’s experiences around the world, including China where he suffered heavy defeats and tasted victory almost as a bystander due to betting syndicates.
As the longest-serving foreign coach with close to 400 games in charge of numerous DStv Premiership clubs, Middendorp has provided startling insight into his time in South Africa especially his most recent spell at Chiefs.
“What happened over there are all facts and I’m not insulting anybody,” Middendorp says on his spell at Chiefs.
“It is facts about how I was treated at that moment while I was there.
“The book is not about insulting individuals but stating facts.
“The circumstances at hand were that some players were not as sharp as before when we went into the bubble.
“Some players went out to do nonsense and you guys have all seen videos of Mathoho (Mulomowandau) and Itumeleng Khune along with all these guys partying but none of you guys ever spoke about it.
‘Then they come two weeks before we go into the bubble where you had to play games every three days.
“Then at that time, you don’t have players in the second line-up who can perform at the same level.
“There was nobody who could replace (Lebogang) Manyama, George Maluleka every three days. No chance.
“Mathoho was totally flat in the bubble and as a coach, there are factors that you can’t influence and we ended up second,” Middendorp startlingly revealed.
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“I’m not a big talker as I was committed to the work as a coach be it rescuing the teams in the Bundesliga or providing progress at Chiefs after I took over in December 2018.
“This book was written over three and a half years with Saul Kamionsky who has been doing interviews with several people over the years.
“At the moment I’m here in Johannesburg after I finished a project with FIFA and I’m networking regarding my next project where I can be challenged.
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“I’m looking forward and have too much energy to be sitting doing nothing.
“The next project doesn’t have to be in South Africa and it can be in another direction and my target with regards to managing a club is at the beginning of the new year,” Middendorp adds.
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