Upon his arrival at The Amakhosi’s Bloemfontein hotel on Saturday afternoon, Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp looked relaxed as he smiled, greeted and chatted with hotel staff who had formed a welcoming party for Chiefs.

The Chiefs coach headed straight to a television set to watch a recording of the 1981 Mainstay Cup Final between The Amakhosi and old foes Orlando Pirates, which ended in a 1-1 draw Chiefs did emerge victors after they defeated Pirates 3-1 a few days later in the replay.

As the coach and his technical team were gripped by the skills of the Chiefs team of yesteryear, his team tucked into snacks and a welcome cocktail laid on for them by the hotel before departing to their rooms.

Chiefs left Johannesburg just after midday on Saturday and arrived in Bloemfontein late Saturday afternoon, Chiefs are in Bloemfontein to participate in the four team Mangaung Trophy and will face fellow Soweto residents Moroka Swallows 10h00 am on Sunday Morning at Vodacom Park.

The Amakhosi conducted a training session at the Kaizer Chiefs Village in Southern Johannesburg prior to their four hour trek to Bloemfontein, after which the coach expressed his satisfaction with the input from his team.

Coach Ernst Middendorp was the face of calmness as he disembarked from the team bus and commented about Sunday’s game against Swallows saying “we did our final tactical preparations for tomorrows game I have a clearer idea as to who will start and how we will approach the game from a tactical point of view”.

Swallows were big spenders in the off season adding a number of high profile players to their roster in the off season, including the signing of four former Chiefs players.

For Ernst Middendorp the game will be once again used to test his team out against a team that could well be one of the teams fighting for the PSL crown next May “Swallows made some astute buys during the off season the advantage of this game is that you get to see how your preparation for the season is going in relation to one of the teams who will probably be regarded along with us and a few other teams as a serious title contender”.

Defender Fabian McCarthy who was amongst the tail end of the group to step off the bus was pleased to return to the city that helped give him as a start in the beautiful game as he made his debut as a professional player with Bloemfontein Celtic, he is wishful of a triumphant return to the city which he once called home.

McCarthy said “every time I come back Bloemfontein I have this over whelming excitement which over takes me and it gives me a lift there are so many people in Bloemfontein who helped my career and when ever I return they come out and support me. I am confident that their support and our supporters who are in the Free State will play apart in guiding us to our third trophy of the pre- season crown”.

Fabian is aware that after the euphoria of gaining the upper hand over Orlando Pirates and Manchester United a week ago The Amakhosi need to keep the momentum going as the pre season begins the winding down phase. “We achieved two amazing results last week against Pirates which was marvellous as I was stand in captain for the day and than against Man United and we can not drop the standard we have set for ourselves” added Fabian.

What could be The Amakhosi’s penultimate pre-season tournament depending on whether they qualify for the Telkom Charity Cup or not.

Will begin in earnest early on Sunday Morning when they play their second Soweto Derby in nine days against Swallows and Ernst Middendorp is hopeful that his team can play the same way they did against Pirates in Rustenburg and once again return to Johannesburg a trophy laden team.