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Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp did not have an explanation as to why his players “took a step back” after he asked them to drive in a second goal in the second half of a 1-1 draw against Baroka FC on Saturday, a result that saw Mamelodi Sundowns lift the Absa Premiership trophy.
Middendorp admitted he was somewhat taken aback by Amakhosi’s response coming out of the break at Bidvest Stadium, where Baroka, as might be expected from a team desperate for a draw to escape the playoffs, raised his intensity 1-0 from the break.
Middendorp appeared to have aged a year in front of SuperSport television cameras after his team held the championship in their 50th anniversary campaign within reach of Khama Billiat’s opener in the 39th minute, but ruined it by conceding Manuel’s draw. Kambala in the 59th minute.
“Finishing where the chances lie in our own hands, and being second after having more than 28 match days in first position, is of course disappointing,” said the coach.
“Congratulations to Mamelodi Sundowns‚ to Pitso [Mosimane‚ Downs’ coach]. They won it. “
Middendorp was visibly disappointed to have been so close, and in the end having to watch their team capitulate in a rather tame and embarrassing way as they failed to create a chance for 26 minutes after Kambala’s draw.
But his rather dispassionate responses also contrasted with the fire in his gut and the excitement that his counterpart Mosimane is famous for at the Sundowns, who beat Black Leopards 3-0 at Dobsonville Stadium.
Downs played in five grueling competitions in 2019-20 up to three for Chiefs, including the Caf Champions League.
They closed a 13-point gap from December to 56 points apiece on the final day, where the Chiefs still held the advantage of a +21 goal difference to the Sundowns’ +18, and would have lifted their first trophy in five seasons with a win by any margin against Baroka.
“I think we strategically had dominance in the first half with the wing players.
“And we had a very clear discussion at half time, ‘Just go ahead, look for the second goal,'” Middendorp said, in his 90-minute recap.
“And‚ ha ‚curiously they backtracked‚ and fouls after fouls around the area ‚and then you concede this 1-1.
“And then of course it becomes very difficult to play against a team like Baroka, which other teams have also seen and experienced.”
Middendorp said he does not yet know how much credit he and his team will receive for their best finish in five years, and for changing the disastrous ninth position of 2018-19 by challenging until the final day of 2019-20, and being so close to the first as well. coach’s league title.
“It’s not my decision. Other people will decide.
“I think you have to realize that you don’t win matches just with the DNA of being a great club. You have to work on it, you have to push yourself at any time,” said the 61-year-old.
“That is the reality in soccer and professional soccer. In the end we had several games where I think we could have done better, and then we ended up like this. “
The Chiefs, after winning a second double, including the league, in 2014-15 with Stuart Baxter, have not won another trophy, and have finished fifth, fourth third and ninth last season in that span at PSL.
His best total points previously in those five years was 50 in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
They finished with 57 in 2019-20 ‚and the best level goal difference with Sundowns of +21.
Since Saturday’s game was a Baroka home game, that club did not host a post-game press conference, they chose, per league rules on the bio-bubble, to simply send a video of coach Dylan Kerr’s reaction to through the PSL WhatsApp. group.
On Sunday morning, the Chiefs had sent no reaction to their post-game television interview from Middendorp, who had also declined to attend the post-game digital conference call of his team’s 1-0 loss to Bidvest Wits. on Sunday.
