Bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns appeared more like the best of friends when a press conference was held on Monday to publicise their eagerly-awaited Absa Cup semifinal in Rustenburg on Saturday.
Ernst Middendorp of Chiefs and Neil Tovey and Migueal Gamondi of Sundowns were responsible for this uncharacteristic accord.
Tovey offered praise for his opposite number and the club where he made his name as a player while captaining Bafana Bafana.
”I must say I have a great amount of respect for Ernst Middendorp and the way he has handled the Chiefs’ team and himself since his arrival in South Africa at the start of the season,” said Tovey.
”It’s never easy for a new coach to overcome teething problems at a big club like Chiefs,” added the Sundowns’ coach, ”and Ernst had more than his fair share of drama in the initial stages of his tenure. But he has come out of that ordeal with a great deal of credit”.
Middendorp had only complimentary things to say about Sundowns and played down the fact that Amakhosi have enjoyed overwhelming success in cup matches against Sundowns over the last 10 years.
”What happened two years ago or 10 years ago will mean nothing when the game kicks off at 3.15pm in Rustenburg on Saturday,” said Chiefs’ German-born coach.
”Sundowns are a team with many quality players and they will be out to imprint a different story on the proceedings.
”They will be a tough hurdle to overcome,” added Middendorp, ”but we intend to prepare thoroughly for the game and leave no stone unturned in our efforts to qualify for the Cup Final.”
”This game is another chapter to the story and we will be writing our own history,” said Middendorp. – Sapa