No joy for Chiefs coach after his side’s big win

It is hard to imagine what he would have been like had his side lost‚ such was the morose mood of Ernst Middendorp after a one-sided victory for his Kaizer Chiefs charges on Wednesday night.

The coach seemingly found no joy from an away 4-0 thumping of Stellenbosch FC that took his side past the 30-point mark with just 12 games of the season played and opened a 10-point lead in the premiership standings.

Instead it was an opportunity to take a potshot at whatever had been irritating him over the past week‚ including his own club’s management‚ and make a few bewildering observations in the post-match television interview and the later media conference.

Asked how satisfying Wednesday’s victory was‚ particularly in the light of the surprise semifinal setback in the Telkom Knockout at the hands of Maritzburg United last weekend‚ the answer set the tone for a laconic and‚ at times‚ rambling discourse.

“Basically I’m not interested about yesterday‚ two days and three days ago. This is probably because of my age because time is a limited resource for me‚” he said

There was no hint of any pleasure on the part of the 61-year-old‚ even if his side delivered a polished performance and dealt competently with their lower-standard opposition.

“Let’s be humble and healthy in our preparations and our reflection‚ knowing where we are coming from. We are coming from ninth position last season where we didn’t achieve anything and we really prepared well in the preseason‚ and [do so] day-in and day-out. Of course‚ it is disappointing not to win each and every game, but we try.”

Middendorp did say he was pleased with how his players handled the “one-on-one” situations and with their transitional play.

“Tonight was definitely a game where a high number of players performed to the standard we expect from them. We definitely go with a lot of joy on to our flight back to Johannesburg‚” he said‚ without offering any evidence of that joy.

Next he was asked about whether the level of expectation now was beginning to ramp up the pressure on his club. “No‚” was the only answer.

Middendorp habitually sits down at post-match press conferences with an air of “what stupid question am I going to be asked now?” and does little to hide his contempt. He also says he to pay no heed to what is said or written about his work but then betrays this supposed nonchalance with digs at perceived criticism.

To the next question about a 10-day break before the next match against Bloemfontein Celtic breaking a little of the team’s momentum‚ but perhaps conversely also offering Khama Billiat time to recover from his hamstring problem‚ Middendorp’s response was: “You know a lot of people are talking‚ and talking and talking and talking and talk again about whatever.”

His complained about criticism he had received for fielding Njabulo Blom in the semifinal against Maritzburg United and also observations about the depth of the squad.

He did lighten up a little when asked about the backing of the Cape Town-based fans.

“It is always a pleasure to get support and cheering as we have seen‚” he said. “It’s a pleasure for us that despite this being an away game‚ we still experience this productive support which helps the team.”