Posted in News on Sep 21, 2007.
While Ertugral has been widely credited for reviving the Urban Warriors last season as he guided them to a top five finish in the league and also two Cup finals, on the road he also managed to collect both the PSL and ABSA Coach of the season awards at the end of last season.
All of that though is history for the Chiefs coach, who according to him, he now has a new team who he feels can win as much silverware as he did last season or even better what he achieved during his first spell as Chiefs coach from 1999 – 2002, when in just over three seasons he guided the Amakhosi to four trophies, which included three in a space of three months in 2001. That year Chiefs won the BP Top Eight, African Cup Winners Cup (Mandela Cup) and Coca Cola Cup titles between September and December 2001.
It was Chiefs' three-trophy haul in these months that helped them win the award as the 2001 African club of the year and Ertugral has every intention of repeating that success.
Ertugral: Chiefs - Ajax past
During his first spell as Chiefs coach in the 1999-2000 season, Ertugral did not have any success against the Urban Warriors as Chiefs lost both home and away matches to Ajax. Ertugral was in charge during the first ever meeting between the two teams in November 1999 and saw his finest hour in a league game against Ajax was at the Ellis Park Stadium on the 27th February 2002 when goals from Stanton Fredericks, Rene Richards and Patrick Mabedi saw Chiefs through to their inaugural league victory over Ajax as the game ended 3-1 in favor of The Amakhosi.
In depth knowledge
For Muhsin Ertugral, Saturday’s game will be a case of him trying to break down the house he built, as he knows all about Ajax’s strengths and weaknesses and will have the necessary insight to help bring down the foundations.
Speaking to kaizerchiefs.com about his emotions ahead of Saturday’s match, Ertugral said: “It is going to be a fun occasion for me to face Ajax. I had a good relationship with everybody at the club and enjoyed my time there. Last season I was on the opposite end facing Chiefs,so I know all about what it means to play against a club you once coached."
Ertugral is also looking to use the insight he has on Ajax to his advantage.
“Obviously I know the players well. How they think, what their strengths are, what are their weak points are, and I have had a look at them this season a couple of times and have been able to find the gaps where they can be exploited. I have a new family now and my aim is to get my new club on the winning trail. If that means we need to put Ajax to the sword, then so be it.”