Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp was pleased with his side’s stellar performance against Highlands Park at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The Glamour Boys returned to winning ways after securing a comfortable 3-0 victory over the Lions of the North through a superb goal from Eric Mathoho and a brace by Leonardo Castro.
The victory moves Amakhosi six points clear at the top of the Absa Premiership standings, with 38 points after 16 matches played so far this season.
However, Middendorp insists his side ‘fully deserve’ all the praise after their impressive performance to celebrate their 50th anniversary with a win on home soil.
‘In May or June I was not really sure about language, knowledge from Leonardo [Castro]. Now he takes nearly seven minutes from making an interview in English language, the change is phenomenal, fantastic,’ Middendorp told SuperSport TV after the game.
‘Ja, the game I think we haven’t really highlighted it before but, you know, you go to a birthday yesterday, big celebration you see all the big shots, from Doc Khumalo, [Siphiwe] Tshabalala and all the guys, [Vusi] ‘Computer’ [Lamola] and you see the faces of the players knowing they don’t want to disappoint the party.
‘They don’t want to disappoint anybody and you see the tension already going to the camp last night and I must say, under this circumstances, a huge compliment to each and everybody who has been on the field today.
‘To manage this, knowing playing Highlands Park with a certain defensive shape they have in their man-to-man organisation, it’s not easy to play the game through, 3-0 at the end of the day. I think fully deserved, ja, compliment to each and everybody.
‘Because of the occasion, in particular, losing the last game against SuperSport three days ago and the occasion is something we haven’t … let’s say we have denied it intentionally, that’s our job from the technical team side and the management side. But I know how important it is for the entire history and you don’t want on your birthday [to] spoil the party.’
