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Ernst Middendorp may have seen his players capitulate agonizingly near the finish line on Saturday, but the Kaizer Chiefs coach has earned the respect of his Mamelodi Sundowns counterpart Pitso mosimane.
Mosimane acknowledged that the German mentor pushed him to the finish and the race was finally decided on the last day of the season, with Sundowns eventually winning it to defend his title.
“I would like to thank coach Ernst Midddendorp, I said on Friday that we ran our race, him and me. I said it’s like in boxing where the two fighters who are going to fight exaggerate the fight and we promote the game.
“At the end of the fight we hugged and I said this before this trophy.
“He ran the race, he kept me in the race and he gave shock therapy to the Chiefs, he played differently and he brought in different tactics.
“If the tactic was wrong, why did we win the league on the last day?”
Mosimane played endless mind games with his nemesis for the duration of an enthralling career, but as he pointed out at the end, it was a battle of wits that was played both on and off the field.
Sundowns managed to close a 13-point gap after a grueling schedule that included participation in the Caf Champions League, reached the MTN8 semi-final stage, won the Telkom Knockout and reached the final of the Nedbank Cup.
The Brazilians could win a rare hat-trick this season when they face Bloemfontein Celtic in the Nedbank Cup final this week.
Mosimane said his assistant Rulani Mokwena, who rejoined Sundowns in July after a season at Chippa United and the Orlando Pirates, proved to be a lucky charm for the club, as he won a fifth league title with the Brazilians.
“This is the sweetest of all and I also have to thank the yellow nation, my entire technical team,” he said.
“I said to [assistant coach] Rulani [Mokowena] he is an angel and is very lucky ‚and must not fail [any more] trophies again because the trophies are here.
“It has been difficult because there have been many skeptics, but the yellow nation never gave up on us.
“There are those who thought that this trophy will not be awarded. I wish our fans could have been [at the stadium] so that we could have our usual celebrations.
“What a title to win!
“I think at Mamelodi Sundowns we are slow to start and we like to save it for the last game.
“Even last year we put it off until the last game. I hope next year we don’t put it off until the last day because it’s like a bad habit and you may never win it again.”
