The Swallows mentor is confident that his side will be able to put in a good performance in the cup competition.
“It’s a cup game and cup games are always something special. And I’m quite sure that we will have a good game. We have a good team and a good squad. And we will give our best.” On Saturday 16th September 2019, Kaizer Chiefs suffered a devastating 2-1 loss to TS Galaxy in the Nedbank Cup final.
On this day 2019, @Lepasazakhele did this when @TSGALAXYFC defeated @KaizerChiefs on Nedbank Cup final at Moses Mabhida Stadium LepasaDay pic.twitter.com/YuwfbOfsLN
— Philani Nene (@PhilaniNUF) May 18, 2020
The defeat still haunts Ernst Middendorp, who is now the head coach of Swallows FC. This week, Gavin Hunt’s 2-1 loss against Dondol Stars evoked painful memories for Middendorp.
He was at the helm of Amakhosi when they were beaten by the then GladAfrica Championship side.
Speaking at the Nedbank Cup media day, Middendorp said, “It will always happen. What is more dramatic to lose against Maluti or Dondol in the first round? Or is it more dramatic if you go all the way with the team to the final and then you lose against a lower division side? I don’t know. What’s more painful? What’s more discussable? What’s more delicate or whatever.”
He added, “I remember it was described as a disaster. It’s ICU. Guys, football is a worldwide, respectful game and you play 11 against 11. If you play football with your body with your mindset. And it’s the mindset that the brain of some of guys in certain teams are not working, It doesn’t matter which team or which players we are talking about. You can do whatever you want as a as a coach you can. You can swap around. You can be the crazy man on the side if it is gone and you feel it. And I’m quite sure that Kevin Hunt will tell you at a certain moment he thought something will happen here today. You feel it. You know what’s, you know the players, how far they are.”
Middendorp and his Swallows side will now face Stellenbosch FC in the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup. He is confident that his side will be able to put in a good performance in the cup competition. “It’s a cup game and cup games are always something special. And I’m quite sure that we will have a good game. We have a good team and a good squad. And we will give our best.”
