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In a move to turn things around, bottom-placed Cape Town Spurs have announced Ernst Middendorp as their new head coach.
Spurs unveiled Middendorp on Friday afternoon at iKamva, with the German-born believed to have signed a two-year deal with the club.
The 65-year-old has replaced Shaun Bartlett who was sacked in October following a poor start in the 2023/24 DStv Premiership campaign.
Technical director Sean Connor had been acting as an interim coach since the former Bafana Bafana striker’s departure. Connor is set to return to his original role.
The former Kaizer Chiefs mentor last managed Singida Fountain Gate in Tanzania where he reportedly had a disagreement with the club management over his team selection.
Mazinyo, as he if affectionately known, returns to the domestic league with his last significant role at SV Meppen in Germany’s fourth tier.
“I would like to start by addressing the current situation at the club. We had a poor start to the season and that’s not good news for anyone. The reasons are various, but the one issue that we have to address is the fact that people tend to believe that we don’t have good enough players and we have inexperienced players.
“We are definitely not a club that would overspend its budget. As you know, currently in the PSL there are two or three clubs that have FIFA bans and the main reason for that is that they tend to bring in players that they can’t afford. But we are definitely not in that category,” club CEO, Alexi Efstathiou said.
Middendorp to assess new squad
Middendorp also insisted that his work with the team only starts now, as he will begin to assess his new squad and players.
“Now it’s about really to use every minute to find first what’s the assessment, what can be the impression from my side, from all of us.
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“And then to look into how and what’s important. There are areas of improvement, where you believe or everybody should stick to it, to say ‘ok, in these areas’, for example critical phases, for example defensively, number of goals you concede should not happen, and, and, and… using the chances at the end of the game with a penalty, shoot it not to the crossbar, shoot it into the net,” he added.
The Urban Warriors’ next match is home to fourteen-placed Royal AM on Saturday, November 25.
Meanwhile, Ayanda Patosi will train with the Cape-based side with a view to earning a contract.
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