Chippa United chief executive Peter Koutroulis has admitted roping in Ernst Middendorp midway through the season to replace Roger Sikhakhane was a risk that may bring “a bit of instability” in the Port Elizabeth outfit.
Chilli Boys also released seven players during the transfer window that closed last Friday and brought only four on board.
Notable of the seven who left is David Zulu, who joined Kaizer Chiefs, but Koutroulis believes they have quality players, particularly Edward Manqele to fill the shoes of the goalpoacher.
“Yes, Middendorp coming in midway may bring a bit of instability but he is a disciplined coach with lots of experience,” Koutroulis told the Daily Dispatch.
“In soccer you must take risks but it is important to consider the background of a coach instead of judging them by their most recent results.”
Middendorp was sacked at Bloemfontein Celtic last year following a string of poor results but Koutroulis maintains he is “100% the right man for the job”.
“He was the best man available when Chippa United decided to bring somebody on board,” he said.
With the league due to restart next Tuesday following the festive and Africa Cup of Nations break, the Chilli Boys chief executive conceded they would miss Zulu, who was the club’s top goalscorer with five goals before leaving for Naturena in what is believed to have been a R4-million deal.
Zulu’s replacement Manqele has hardly seen game time since the start of the ongoing campaign, after reports that he refused to join Chippa although his former club Mamelodi Sundowns had cleared him to go to PE on loan.
“In Manqele we have a capable striker with lots of experience and everybody knows his quality and besides, we also have George Akpabio and other quality players who will step up, so we do have backup,” said Koutroulis. He emphasised that football nowadays was about “having a bit of luck on top of the kind of players you have”.
He said the shrinking squad was due to Middendorp being a fan of a small squad with quality players. He was full of praise for the “discipline Ernst has brought into the team”, adding the German coach “under normal circumstances” would not struggle to meet the mandate of ensuring the club was not relegated.
Chippa will visit University of Pretoria in the country’s capital next Tuesday before welcoming Maritzburg United at Wolfson Stadium four days later.
Chippa boss upbeat about Middendorp as new club coach
Chilli Boys also released seven players during the transfer window that closed last Friday and brought only four on board.
Notable of the seven who left is David Zulu, who joined Kaizer Chiefs, but Koutroulis believes they have quality players, particularly Edward Manqele to fill the shoes of the goalpoacher.
“Yes, Middendorp coming in midway may bring a bit of instability but he is a disciplined coach with lots of experience,” Koutroulis told the Daily Dispatch.
“In soccer you must take risks but it is important to consider the background of a coach instead of judging them by their most recent results.”
Middendorp was sacked at Bloemfontein Celtic last year following a string of poor results but Koutroulis maintains he is “100% the right man for the job”.
“He was the best man available when Chippa United decided to bring somebody on board,” he said.
With the league due to restart next Tuesday following the festive and Africa Cup of Nations break, the Chilli Boys chief executive conceded they would miss Zulu, who was the club’s top goalscorer with five goals before leaving for Naturena in what is believed to have been a R4-million deal.
Zulu’s replacement Manqele has hardly seen game time since the start of the ongoing campaign, after reports that he refused to join Chippa although his former club Mamelodi Sundowns had cleared him to go to PE on loan.
“In Manqele we have a capable striker with lots of experience and everybody knows his quality and besides, we also have George Akpabio and other quality players who will step up, so we do have backup,” said Koutroulis. He emphasised that football nowadays was about “having a bit of luck on top of the kind of players you have”.
He said the shrinking squad was due to Middendorp being a fan of a small squad with quality players. He was full of praise for the “discipline Ernst has brought into the team”, adding the German coach “under normal circumstances” would not struggle to meet the mandate of ensuring the club was not relegated.
Chippa will visit University of Pretoria in the country’s capital next Tuesday before welcoming Maritzburg United at Wolfson Stadium four days later.
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