Posted in News on Feb 07, 2007.
Motaung was quick to dismiss reports emanating in the media over the past week that Middendorp had opted out of his contract at Naturena. Middendorp, who still has a few more months remaining on his current contract, which - expires at the end of the season will, according to Motaung see out the remainder of his contract with Chiefs.
Motaung said; “There has been this cloud lingering over our heads since lunch time on Tuesday. Someone started this rumour and all I can say is that there is no truth in it."
The Chiefs Team Manager further said; “Losing to Sundowns was not the ideal thing to happen to us, especially at this delicate stage of the season. We have had to look at the defeat with a view towards coming out stronger in our remaining ten games - what we are now focused on is gaining the maximum out of these games. In addition we will be looking to defend our ABSA Cup title. At the moment Ernst Middendorp still occupies the coach’s office at Naturena and no-one has instructed him to clear out his belongings."
The Chiefs coach has himself been taken aback by talk of him having vacated his spot on the bench “it really surprises me that people can say a host of things on radio and television which I never said. The thing is that although we are in a corner after the loss to Sundowns, we will fight our way out of this corner. In my life I have never run away from the battlefield and I have no intention of doing that now. We have a lot of soccer still to play this season, added to that is the small issue of defending our ABSA Cup so to clarify the situation - Ernst Middendorp is still with Kaizer Chiefs."
Furthermore, Motaung also clarified the fact that a soccer website had on Wednesday run a report that Chiefs had called up Middendorp to a special management meeting were false and there was no truth in those reports.
In addition the website also mentioned that Chiefs had called up a special press conference scheduled for late on Wednesday afternoon, this too was untrue as the club will only be holding their weekly scheduled press briefing at midday on Thursday.