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Coach Ernst Middendorp. Photo: Etienne Rothbart
Ernst Middendorp on Monday continued his tirade against the Premier Soccer League following Maritzburg United’s elimination from the Telkom Knockout, falling short of accusing the league of orchestrating a conspiracy to get Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in the competition’s final.
Angered by the PSL’s decision to take Maritzburg’s semi-final against Pirates to Chatsworth at the weekend, Middendorp has now questioned the league’s logic to allow the club to use the Harry Gwala Stadium for a league fixture between the same teams this Friday.
“It is shocking that we were not allowed to use Harry Gwala on Sunday, but five days later, we can play against Pirates at night there,” Middendorp said. “We were put through so much frustration, but now that everybody got the final they wanted, they say it’s OK, we can go back to Maritzburg.”
The volatile German was sent off in the first half of Sunday’s semi-final defeat to Bucs, which the PSL moved to Chatsworth due to what they said were “safety considerations”, and he could risk a possible charge from the league prosecutors by adding fuel to his simmering battle with the league.
“You have to think realistically why our semi-final was moved from Pietermaritzburg. Everybody knows that things have worked perfectly: now you have a Chiefs v Pirates final. All of a sudden we are told we can go back to our home ground.”
But PSL general manager Derek Blackensee dismissed Middendorp’s claims, reasoning the decision to switch to Chatsworth was “made by the police. They decided the risk profile of a league match and that of a cup semi-final are different”.
Blackensee also challenged Middendorp to prove his claim of a conspiracy to get Chiefs and Bucs in the December 4 final at Soccer City.
Middendorp begins a two-match ban on Friday, meaning he can’t sit on the bench, but PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu is almost certain to take keen interest in referee Daniel Bennett’s report from Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Pirates. Bennett wrote that he sent off the Maritzburg trainer for “continual dissent and using abusive language”, but Middendorp yesterday defended his touchline antics.
“I merely questioned why the referee booked our player (Kurt) Leintjies for simulation, but he didn’t even have a word with (Ezenwa) Otorugu (of Pirates) when he did the same thing. Then he sent me off. I was fighting for justice,” Middendorp raged.
He conceded his players were not in the right frame of mind for Sunday’s semi-final, but promised they would be ready to face Pirates in their familiar home ground this Friday. “The players’ mood, obviously, was not up to standard. They asked us why do we have to play in Chatsworth and we had no answers. We started already on Sunday afternoon to prepare them mentally for this Friday’s game. We won’t go into that game looking for revenge. We just want to pick up points and move up in the league standings. This issue is now over and closed.”
Next Saturday’s cup final between the Soweto giants will be their fourth meeting in official matches this season, but their first final since 2006.
Fixtures
Friday: Ajax v Wits, Newlands, 8pm; Maritzburg v Pirates, Harry Gwala, 8pm
Saturday: AmaZulu v FS Stars, Princes Magogo Stadium, 3.30pm; Sundowns v Aces, Lucas Moripe Stadium, 6pm; Swallows v SuperSport, Dobsonville, 8.15pm; Chiefs v Vasco, Soccer City, 8.15pm
Sunday: Platinum Stars v Arrows, Royal Bafokeng, 3.30pm; Celtic v Santos, Seisa Ramabodu, 3.30pm - The Star
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Anonymous, wrote
Ian, wrote
They are only concerned wuth the bottom line.....Money generated on the gates.....Bloody mafias....
Anonymous, wrote
With the PSL going like this with incompetence, maladministration, flouting of rules, influencing results and taking advantage of smaller teams and soccer lovers, the time is right for a competing soccer body that will be run professionally. Sports organisations, soccer federations, potential sponsors, advertisers and marketers, coaches, referres and soccer lovers must start thinking about this seriously. I PSL was formed from the NPSL, NSL or whatever it was called,then the South African Premier League (SAPL) must be formed with national first and second division, provincial leagues and focus on development. Pitso will then have more players to choose from which will be good for our nation. Viva SAPL viva!!!
Soccer fan, wrote
Well Maritzburg coach must understand that this is business the sponsors want to make money so is Psl if the gate takings do not make sense in the Final then the sponsors do not last long in Psl Sorry man but this is Africa my Friend
Anonymous, wrote
Why Chiefs is becoming a culprit , chief did not make any changes interms of venue.Chiefs will pay reveng for United
Duncan S, wrote
When you take home ground advangate from small times like Maritzburg to a neutral venue, you immediately give it to a bigger opponent like Chiefs and Pirates. So PSL knew the injustice they are going to Maritzburg. Everybody knw football is a mental game and PSL have played it well here. This is bad for our football.
Delils, wrote
@Andile, How do you class a game between the same two teams differently? Same teams, same supporters! Same parameters! Same answers! PSL is biased, and thats why PSL soccer is so crap!
Kevin, wrote
it is all manipulated to get fans through the gates and big bucs in the bank.PSL should have a Super Premier league consisting of Chiefs and pirates only, then they can play each other thirty times a year, thirty odd Soweto derbys... how very boring! PSL is killing what ever sembelance of soccer this country ever had....
Mthimbana, wrote
Mazinyo I do understand your point but the virtue of the matter there was nithing wrong playing in your home bcuase Maritzburg don't even have lots of spectators kaizer supporters are alwyas attending Pirates game bcause Pirates play entertainning football players can make your stomuch run. If Maritzburg was capable 2 score goals then nothing will have block them from not scoring. I knew that he was going to moan when lost against Pirates. The main purpose for the game to b switch was a contructive reason meaning security.
Anonymous, wrote
@Andile i totally disagree with you, the fact is is still United and Pirates that are going to play with the same players. From what you said i can see you are a pirates fan who don't understant the game.
Anonymous, wrote
Litye, wrote
Mazinyo might have a point here, realy the psl never ceases to amaze me. I just hope Maritzburg could give them a groot klap on Friday
Andile, wrote
People includidng Mazinyo are missing the point here, the profile of a Cup semifinal and that of a league math are totally different, how difficult this is for ppl to understand. For example the sunday game was a Class A game and according to the New Sports Act there are regulations governing Class A games which Harry Gwala Atadium didnt meet, thats y the game had to be moved. As for the league game on Friday it was always going to be played at Harry Gwala because it is not a Class A game, therefore it can be staged there. Now good people How difficult can that be really now...........
stonito, wrote
kurt, wrote
SA soccer is corrupt to the middle of the bone. That is the perception and the P|SL must prove otherwise. In an official report it is clearly stated that 99% of SA referees are 100% bribable. Sa soceer is a shambles it is a joke and we will never get anywhere. It does not matter about which coach we have. From the top to the bottom there is no structure, no guidence and soon there will be no spectators. As for the vuvuzelas well they are a damn nuisence and noise. Watching good professional BundesLiga, La Liga or Premier Leauge is the only way to go.
For Middendorp, wrote
The PSL are crooks and only worry about they're big fat paychecks, a Chiefs vs Pirates final means big bonuses for them, crooks!!! But either way Chiefs gon win against Pirates,dont worry Dorpie, Khosi for life...
Anonymous, wrote
Yah we got the final we wanted as SA football fans, but that doesn't take away the fact that United came into Sunday's game in an incorrect frame of mind, from the coach to the palyers on the field and the sidelines. If it was a ploy to by PSL to get the dream final, it worked wonders, that I can say. Having said that, some of the decision by Daniel were inconsistent. We might say what we want to but Ernst is right to say what Otorogu did was exactly the same as what Leinties was booked for. Ndaba can say whatever he likes to protect his referees but United's red card was a result of the same offence we had seen, just minutes before that incident but the difference is, it was the United player that was elbowed. My question is, if it was Pirates or Chiefs that was choosing the Harry Gwala as the home ground for the Sunday game, would PSL or police messed them aroung like they did to United? Soccer is becoming like politics!!! If you are a small honest guy, you stand no chance!
lovers, wrote
Dont wory Middendorp at the end of this cup justice will prevail. Kaizer Chiefs will do it for Middendorp
Anonymous, wrote
follow the money trail and you will find the truth, a Kaiser Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates final will always generate huge income.
king, wrote
I am Pirates supporter and happy that pirates went through but still it is nonsense that the game has been moved from Hery Gwala to Chartsworth stadium, maybe if they have taken it to Moses Mabhida woul have understood, it is bad that some other teams must play as if they are not part of the PSL, gone are the days of bigsmaller teams, I support Middendorp 100%, they can prosecute charge him or do whaterver but still safety concerns can't justifiey the swicth...........PSL is K@#@#@K
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