Chiefs coach admits “challenge” caused by player absence
Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has admitted that Amakhosi's preparation for the new season has been made tricky by the absence of several players from their pre-season camp who participated in the 2019 Africa Cup on Nations.
Ernst Middendorp, coach of Kaizer Chiefs (Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix)
Khama Billiat is the only player back in the Chiefs camp following the Afcon, with the likes of Bafana Bafana’s Daniel Cardoso and Ramahlwe Mphahlele given time off after the Afcon.
“I am quite satisfied with how our pre-season camp is going so far given the circumstances we find ourselves in with some of our key players missing due to their country duty in the Afcon tournament,” Middendorp told the Chiefs website.
“We are not complaining but it is a challenge for us preparing for the new season without some of the guys. For instance, we needed Daniel Cardoso and ‘Rama’ Mphahlele today, because we were working on our defensive work.
“We have been working hard for the past few days and I’m happy with the response from some of the players. It is good that we do not have any serious injuries and some of the guys who were injured last season are on their way back to full recovery,” added Middendorp.
Kaizer Chiefs have made four new signings in the off-season – strikers Lazarous Kambole and Samir Nurkovic, as well as midfielders Kearyn Baccus and James Kotei.
“The four new guys have been working hard and we believe they will adapt quickly to our system and hit the ground running because we don’t have much time. We have been working on the players’ mental strength and teamwork which will see them communicate better in all departments,” added Middendorp.
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