Chiefs lacked freshness - Middendorp

“At least we will be fresh for next Sunday’s Nedbank Cup fixture,” commented coach Ernst Middendorp, while searching for something positive to say after Kaizer Chiefs failed to progress to the group stage of the Caf Confederation Cup.

The German had a point, of course, as Amakhosi have played five matches between 5 January and 19 January, including having to travel to Zambia and Durban. Competing in five highly competitive games in 14 days was always going to be a tough task.

“Many of our players have been excellent in recent weeks,” Middendorp added. “Including the likes of Hendrick Ekstein and Willard Katsande. Saturday, however, they made mistakes, losing possession of the ball in their own half, which cost us two goals. We simply lacked a bit of freshness today.”

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Chiefs have quite a number of players out due to injury at present, including Itumeleng Khune, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Lebogang Manyama, Joseph Molangoane, Mulomowandau Mathoho, Philani Zulu and Lorenzo Gordinho.

The coach, to be fair, didn’t want to mention this as an excuse. “We have played fantastic football against Bidvest Wits and AmaZulu without most of these players. I therefore feel it’s unfair to talk about this. We are not playing golf or tennis, we play as a team.”

Zambia’s Zesco United edged Chiefs 5-2 on aggregate, winning 2-1 at FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.

Middendorp explained after the second leg of the Caf Confederation Cup playoff round that there was a huge difference between Zesco and Madgascar’s Elgeco Plus, which Amakhosi easily routed 6-0 on aggregate in the previous round.

“Zesco are a good side,” the coach admitted, before generously wishing the Zambians success in the group stage. “We hope that Zesco will go far in this competition. We wish them all the luck.”

To conclude, Middendorp remarked about next Sunday’s Nedbank Cup Last 32 fixture against Tornado FC. “At least we will have no mid-week game. It means that we will have freshness.”

Article courtesy of Kaizer Chiefs