Fans were upset when Middendorp was appointed last year. Now they’re cheering. Here’s why.
It has been over four years since South Africa’s Premier League club, Kaizer Chiefs, has won a trophy. After winning the 2014/15 league title under Stuart Baxter, Steve Komphela came on board. Under his leadership, the team was a middle-of-the-pack club, finishing 5th, 4th, and 3rd in the league, before Komphela was shown the door.
Ernst Middendorp (photo, MySoccer24.com)
In July 2018, Giovanni Solinas was appointed head coach, but poor results led to his ouster half-way through the season. Kaiser then turned to Ernst Middendorp, whose task was to reorganize the team, get it through the season, and focus on doing great things this year.
Kaiser management thought Middendorp was the right man for the job, but Kaizer’s fans felt differently. Very differently. They had a good reason, too. Middendorp’s appointment came 12 years after he led the team to an SAA Super 8 triumph over Supersport United. But Kaiser produced a series of draws that prevented it from winning the league. That performance earned Middendorp the nickname, ‘Middendraw.’
But that was then. Today is now. Is it different this time? On the positive side of the ledger last year, Middendorp led the Chiefs to the final game of the Nedbank Cup final, losing 1-0 TS Galaxy. But Kaizer finished outside the league’s top eight for the first time in club history. That finish further aggravated club supporters, who not had yet another reason to want Middendorp out.
Has the situation changed this year? Absolutely!
After ten games, Kaiser is 8-1-1–first in the league table–with 25 points.
Although it’s too early to say with certainty, it seems that Middendorp has his club positioned to win the Premier League championship. If so, then Middendorp, ‘the villain,’ will end up being Middendorp ‘the hero.’
