The Amakhosi coach who lives in Northern Johannesburg by passes the Johannesburg CBD on a daily basis on his way to and from training at the Kaizer Chiefs village in Naturena, which is South of the CBD.

The coach has spent most of his spare time exploring the malls and eateries in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, after many people had painted a grim picture to him of downtown Johannesburg.

All that changed on Tuesday when the Chiefs coach and his assistant Frank Eullberg made their first journey into the centre of Johannesburg. Where they visited the Amakhosi Store in Gandhi Square to purchase Chiefs souvenirs and other memorabilia as well as sign autographs and take pictures with supporters and customers visiting the store.

The Chiefs head coach who a few years ago spent four months living in New York City, was highly impressed by what Johannesburg had to offer and found it to be have similar characteristics to the big apple, “up to now I have seen one side of this city and I must admit venturing into the city has been an eye opener” said Middendorp.

The Amakhosi coach who was mobbed on his journey into the city by Chiefs fans, also said “there is such a vibe in the city centre, it is a similar vibe that one feels in New York, the noise the hustle and bustle.

Having been here so long I really feel I should have come into the city centre earlier, many people told me horror stories about the city, but I feel if you take care of yourself and don’t venture into the wrong places you should be okay”.

With the Chiefs coach acclimatizing to life on the field with Chiefs and results going the right way he says that he is beginning to feel more and more at home in Jozi.

After registering his first into the down town area he has said that he would like to make regular trips to the CBD and visit some of the various places of interest in city such as the 50th Floor of the Carlton Centre and take in a play the famous Market Theatre Play House at Mary Fitzgerald Square.