Posted in News on Sep 21, 2005.
It was frustrating as the technicians tried to sort out the problem and as a result I was unable to communicate with you yesterday. I did take it up with my resident journalist Yusuf Muhammad and after a disciplinary hearing have given him a two-match ban suspended for a year. No - I am Just kidding on the ban for Mr. Muhammad but we do apologize for yesterday’s inconveniences.
Last week I am sure every one would agree that we had a blissful week as we first beat Dynamos and than took another valuable three points away from Golden Arrows. Both these games were played away from home and I have already gone into the Dynamos game last week so we will leave that game and speak about Golden Arrows.
History going into this game certainly was not on our side and as the statisticians will tell you that we had a higher games loss percentage against them than victories. So the emphatic 3-1 score line, which in my opinion in not being brash should have been more like 5 or 6-1 was what we deserved. In the windy conditions that the game was played under - we adapted well and made good use of the elements to help us.
I thought that all together it was an excellent team effort. Arrows do possess, I feel, a dangerous player in Mabhuti Khanyeza and I feel he deserves a closer look from our side - he gave us a few moments to be concerned about.
On the weekend we were due to play Sundowns. I was happy facing them - taking into account that they lost in midweek to Black Leopards so their confidence might have taken a slight beating. There was a lot said about off the field activities as to whether the game should be played behind closed doors. Personally, I would much rather play in front of a packed FNB Stadium than an empty one.
This week we play to teams with varying form this season so far. Jomo Cosmos have not won a game in six outings so far and are propping up the foot end of the league. So it is a clash of one against sixteen, which we should not take lightly - as smaller teams, or clubs still looking for their first win might be more motivated to spring a surprise against us.
We have to guard against complacency, and play as we have been in our last two games - we should come home with the points we need. We have had a look at Cosmos and have had a meeting this afternoon with the players to discuss tomorrow’s tactics. Every game we play is like a cup final for us so we prepare for it in that way. What has surprised me though is Cosmos decision to play the game at 16h00pm on a Wednesday afternoon; common sense would have been to play the game at night, as more people would have attended the game.
On Sunday we play Celtic in Bloemfontein. Like the Cosmos game it is an away game, which means that we would have played seven games with six away games, and one home game. Celtic must be congratulated for their success in the SAA Sup eight tournament; Celtics meteoric rise is good for football and for the balance of the league.
It will be seen if the Cup run affects their league form at all as they have only got six points from as many games this season so far. It is always risky challenging on many fronts but the strength of a team is always judged on how well they perform over the nine months of a season.
Celtic’s will definitely be no pushovers and losing twice to them already means we have extra impetus to win and will do our homework carefully before we meet them. There will be no doubt that playing them is made harder with their enthusiastic supporters so I urge as many of you as possible to go down to the stadium on Sunday.
Finally, we are in the fortunate position of not having any injuries - only the almost recovered Cyril Nzama is unavailable for team selection. It is always a nice problem to have for a coach when you have the option of selecting from a good squad who are all fighting each other for a place in the first eighteen.
Keep spreading love and Peace
Ernst Middendorp
