After a weekend of celebration and festivities, stemming from Amakhosi’s historical first double victory over Pirates in the Premier Soccer League and the first time Chiefs have beaten them both home and away in the league in thirteen years.

With Chiefs last having triumphed over Pirates in both matches of a league season way back in 1992, the year Chiefs won all trophies on offer on the domestic scene. With this in mind training on Monday put on hold; as the players downed tools and headed for the African Outdoor Centre, near the Hartebeespoort dam about a 100km away from Johannesburg for a team building exercise.

The idea of the exercise being to help the players enjoy a day in the sun, as well as going through various activities in building trust and honesty amongst each other.

Set up by sponsors Nissan, Chiefs were taken to a 4x4 park where they were given the opportunity to put Nissans latest off road vehicles to the test. Players including Coach Ernst Middendorp and team manager Bobby Motaung climbed in to tackle the rough and unforgiving terrain in the new Nissan Pathfinder and Patrol vehicles.

The speed demons in the team finally met their match in the gravel skid pan when they had to complete and obstacle course in less than 43 seconds. The podium finishers in this event capped a remarkable 1, 2, 3, for the goalkeepers, lead by Emile Baron who finished the fastest in a remarkable 41.22 seconds followed by Tladi Mathibe and Rowen Fernandez.

At the end of what was a truly enjoyable and spirit strengthening day coach Ernst Middendorp said, “you need to sometimes get away from your routine and try something different, the guys really enjoyed themselves today and as long as they are happy with each other away from the pitch it will translate to results on it."

Defender Siphiwe Mkhonza echoed similar sentiments, "we are together every day but it is in an environment of hard work today we came out here in to nature and we got to see the funny side of the guys it has really been a good experience. Trying to manoeuvre on these off road tracks takes a lot of team work and it has helped us build trust in one another."

Special mention was given by Instructor Daniel Smith to Derrick Spencer at a mini awards ceremony after all the activities were over; Spencer missed a barrier during his routine in the skid pan. The defender came centimetres away from retiring the instructor and the Amakhosi magazine photographer, at the end of the day every one saw the lighter side of it all with new nicknames piling up for the unfortunate Spencer.