Amakhosi coach Ernst Middendorp does not usually evoke expressions of happiness towards players for their on-field successes; he did offer a wry smile to midfielder Scara Ngobese after he completed his hat trick in a friendly match on Tuesday afternoon.

The Amakhosi eventually ran out 5-1 winners after Kaizer Motaung Junior and David Radebe contributed with second half strikes after Ngobese’s first half hat trick. Chiefs took on Mvela Golden League outfit PJ Stars on Tuesday in a friendly game, which was played at the Shaft 17 complex in Soweto, which is the home of the Kaizer Chiefs development teams.

Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp commenting on his teams thumping of the first division outfit on Tuesday said “I will continue playing around with the line up and we will work on various tactics and plays. I was experimenting in this game and a lot of what we worked on in training sessions really came off, still we have a lot more to do. On Wednesday I will take the players I have sent to the gym on Tuesday and let them play a practise match, Shaun Bartlett who was away for two days will need the time to get his match sharpness back. The other guys will go to the gym on Wednesday and do some physical training while those who did not play Tuesday will be in action on Monday”.

When further questioned as to the way Scara Ngobese clinically finished off to find his hat trick Ernst answered “Scara has shown a new desire to be in the squad week in week out. He had two decent performances on the weekend and against PJ Stars he worked hard and the important thing for me was that he kept up his performances for the entire ninety minutes - he did not fade from the game”.

For Ngobese, the goals he scored on Tuesday, although they came in a friendly match, the importance of his performance has wider ramifications for him as he added.

“I know that I have to work hard for a place in the team this season and I am willing to work as hard as I need to, playing well in the games leading up to the start of the season is proof that I am willing to do whatever it takes for me to be a contributor to this teams success”.

Scara and the rest of his tea mates trained together on Wednesday morning, the team was then split up by coach Ernst Middendorp as all the players who were in action on Tuesday afternoon went to the gym for a physical training session with Physiotherapist David Milner.