Maritzburg United coach Ernst Middendorp has questioned the motive behind the Premier Soccer League’s two pending disciplinary hearing cases against him – one of which he claims proves he is being targeted because of the six months delay in issuing the charge.
Middendorp’s outburst was trigged on Saturday night following his side’s 4-2 defeat on penalties against Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium in a Telkom Knockout opening round tie. Several decisions, the German-born mentor felt, went against Maritzburg, including a penalty shout that was ignored early in the first half by referee Thando Ndzandzeka when Amakhosi defender Kgotso Moleko appeared to handle the ball after his failed attempt at a slide tackle.
On April 20 in a regional derby between Maritzburg United and Golden Arrows, Middendorp suggested that Mato Madlala, owner of Arrows and acting PSL chief executive, had undue influence on match officials following that 1-1 draw. He told this to a television reporter after a league clash riddled with controversy.
“I feel that something is wrong. I will say it again, I think it is delicate if an interim CEO is parading around the Stadium before the match. Over the last six months nothing happened, then two weeks ago there is a case against me,” Middendorp explained on Saturday night. “I have tried to get an answer. Why now? Why not in April or the end of last season? Nobody can tell me. We have to look into these things because we have a multi-billion rand industry in South Africa. But who am I? Only just a foreigner, I know. Please understand that I feel like I am being hunted in the last two months.”
The coach, who’s first PSL job was as Chiefs coach in 2005, will also be hauled over the coals by the league for other remarks that brought the Premiership into disrepute when he questioned why Victor Hlungwani was appointed to handle the match between Maritzburg and Polokwane City on September 27 despite the fact that he was temporarily banned by the league last season for an “unsatisfactory” performance in a corresponding fixture. Middendorp’s men were beaten 3-2 by City then and by a narrow goal last month.
He expects to appear before the league’s disciplinary committee in the coming days.
Follow Mazola Molefe on Twitter@superjourno
Independent Media