We lose to Bay, we are gone — Spurs coach Middendorp
Spurs urged to focus on big tie
24 April 2024 - 16:39
by Sihle Ndebele
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Cape Town Spurs coach Ernst Middendorp is convinced losing to Richards Bay on Friday will all but end their hopes of escaping automatic relegation.
Spurs host Bay at Athlone Stadium (7.30pm). These two sides are separated by eight points in positions 16 and 15 respectively. Mathematically, Spurs’ fate won’t be sealed by losing to Bay, but Middendorp has emphasised that being defeated by the Natal Rich Boyz would mean game over for them, urging his players to guard against a lapse of concentration on match day.
“Everything depends on Friday evening. If we don’t win on Friday, then you can close the book, that’s the reality. We have to win this game... we have to get three points.
“If we play a draw it’s not good enough. We have to win the game, it is as simple as that. How we do it, it doesn’t matter... 1-0 or whatever it doesn't matter,'' Middendorp stated.
“The most important thing is not to switch off to make it happen. We need high focus, high commitment in every second of that game. At the professional level you can’t switch off as we’ve seen it again and again in our games.”
Meanwhile, “Mazinyo”, as the Spurs coach is known in football circles, didn’t hide the fact that Safa head of referees Abdul Ebrahim irked him by saying PSL coaches who complain about refereeing should present facts and stop scapegoating referees.
“I am a little irritated by the head of referees, what is his name? He [Ebrahim] said everything is fine and he wants facts from me or from us coaches,” said Middendorp, who is one of a few coaches to lambast the standard of officiating in the league.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
We lose to Bay, we are gone — Spurs coach Middendorp
Spurs urged to focus on big tie
Image: Philip Maeta
Cape Town Spurs coach Ernst Middendorp is convinced losing to Richards Bay on Friday will all but end their hopes of escaping automatic relegation.
Spurs host Bay at Athlone Stadium (7.30pm). These two sides are separated by eight points in positions 16 and 15 respectively. Mathematically, Spurs’ fate won’t be sealed by losing to Bay, but Middendorp has emphasised that being defeated by the Natal Rich Boyz would mean game over for them, urging his players to guard against a lapse of concentration on match day.
“Everything depends on Friday evening. If we don’t win on Friday, then you can close the book, that’s the reality. We have to win this game... we have to get three points.
“If we play a draw it’s not good enough. We have to win the game, it is as simple as that. How we do it, it doesn’t matter... 1-0 or whatever it doesn't matter,'' Middendorp stated.
“The most important thing is not to switch off to make it happen. We need high focus, high commitment in every second of that game. At the professional level you can’t switch off as we’ve seen it again and again in our games.”
Meanwhile, “Mazinyo”, as the Spurs coach is known in football circles, didn’t hide the fact that Safa head of referees Abdul Ebrahim irked him by saying PSL coaches who complain about refereeing should present facts and stop scapegoating referees.
“I am a little irritated by the head of referees, what is his name? He [Ebrahim] said everything is fine and he wants facts from me or from us coaches,” said Middendorp, who is one of a few coaches to lambast the standard of officiating in the league.
Spurs’ last five games
Friday: vs Bay (home)
Tuesday: vs Polokwane (home)
May 10: vs SuperSport (away)
May 18: vs Arrows (away)
May 25: vs Chiefs (home)
Bay’s last five games
Friday: vs Spurs (away)
Tuesday: vs AmaZulu (home)
May 11: vs Pirates (away)
May 18: vs CPT City (away)
May 25: vs Stellenbosch (away)
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