Amazulu's surprise victory over SuperSport United at the weekend has given Chippa United head coach Ernst Middendorp hope that his team will bank their first win of the year when they take on Polokwane City at Nelson Mandela Stadium tonight (7.30pm).
The German coach believes the team have been unlucky in his three PSL games in charge so far, saying they deserved far more than the one point they have managed.
“At the moment I am not on the luckiest side in terms of getting results and on the other hand the team by far has not reached their potential,” he said yesterday.
“In the training sessions we can do better; we can do better in the remaining games, home and away because the pressure is there.”
Middendorp acknowledges his team’s biggest problem has been finding the net.
“We need to finish the activity in the box and transfer it into goals. As you can see, it’s not only Chippa United who are experiencing problems with scoring; other teams are struggling as well.
“We have seen a team that didn’t score in 15 or 16 games, then all of a sudden they hammer SuperSport United 5-2. I’m sure soccer fans in SA didn’t expect something like that.
“Soccer is definitely something that is played in the brain.
“You have to put your mind into the right direction and never get frustrated at any time.
“Keep positive, and that is what we are doing in training and in our preparations going into the next game.”
The Chilli Boys will be looking for revenge after losing 3-1 away to Polokwane during the first leg of the PSL. Since former coach Roger Sikhakhane was axed towards the end of the first half of the season, the club has dropped two places on the log.
Chippa now have 23 points from their 20 games.
In order for Middendorp to achieve his mandate of getting 32 points by the end of the season, he needs to win at least three games.
This means a win against Kosta Papic’s side is likely to boost confidence in the Chilli Boys’ camp.
On the another hand, Papic will also be gunning for a win against his former team, who he left earlier in the season.
Going into tonight’s game, Middendorp is expecting an attacking Polokwane side.
Rise and Shine will also want to get back on the winning trail, after they were beaten 3-1 by Orlando Pirates at the weekend.
They are currently placed sixth on the table with 28 points from 20 matches.
Meanwhile, Chippa’s chief executive Peter Koutrolis expressed the club’s support for Middendorp saying: “These are the kind of results that bring people together. Management and the chairman are behind our coach and the players.
“We support Ernst Middendorp with all our hearts and nobody can judge a coach in three games.
“We understand all the complaints from fans about Chippa United’s results; the bottom line is we know Ernst is a good coach, a high quality coach and people must be patient . . . good results will come.”
Koutrolis also added the club was confident they would renew Middendorp’s contract for next season.
Chilli Boys to spice it up for City
The German coach believes the team have been unlucky in his three PSL games in charge so far, saying they deserved far more than the one point they have managed.
“At the moment I am not on the luckiest side in terms of getting results and on the other hand the team by far has not reached their potential,” he said yesterday.
“In the training sessions we can do better; we can do better in the remaining games, home and away because the pressure is there.”
Middendorp acknowledges his team’s biggest problem has been finding the net.
“We need to finish the activity in the box and transfer it into goals. As you can see, it’s not only Chippa United who are experiencing problems with scoring; other teams are struggling as well.
“We have seen a team that didn’t score in 15 or 16 games, then all of a sudden they hammer SuperSport United 5-2. I’m sure soccer fans in SA didn’t expect something like that.
“Soccer is definitely something that is played in the brain.
“You have to put your mind into the right direction and never get frustrated at any time.
“Keep positive, and that is what we are doing in training and in our preparations going into the next game.”
The Chilli Boys will be looking for revenge after losing 3-1 away to Polokwane during the first leg of the PSL. Since former coach Roger Sikhakhane was axed towards the end of the first half of the season, the club has dropped two places on the log.
Chippa now have 23 points from their 20 games.
In order for Middendorp to achieve his mandate of getting 32 points by the end of the season, he needs to win at least three games.
This means a win against Kosta Papic’s side is likely to boost confidence in the Chilli Boys’ camp.
On the another hand, Papic will also be gunning for a win against his former team, who he left earlier in the season.
Going into tonight’s game, Middendorp is expecting an attacking Polokwane side.
Rise and Shine will also want to get back on the winning trail, after they were beaten 3-1 by Orlando Pirates at the weekend.
They are currently placed sixth on the table with 28 points from 20 matches.
Meanwhile, Chippa’s chief executive Peter Koutrolis expressed the club’s support for Middendorp saying: “These are the kind of results that bring people together. Management and the chairman are behind our coach and the players.
“We support Ernst Middendorp with all our hearts and nobody can judge a coach in three games.
“We understand all the complaints from fans about Chippa United’s results; the bottom line is we know Ernst is a good coach, a high quality coach and people must be patient . . . good results will come.”
Koutrolis also added the club was confident they would renew Middendorp’s contract for next season.
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