Conspiracy holds no water - PSL

Coach Ernst Middendorp. Photo: Etienne Rothbart

Coach Ernst Middendorp. Photo: Etienne Rothbart

Published Nov 23, 2010

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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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