Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has made a U-turn by rejoining Cape Town Spurs.
Spurs announced Middendorp’s exit after mutually agreeing to part ways last week. On Monday, it was confirmed that the German tactician was back in charge. The former Amakhosi was hired in November by the Urban Warriors but failed to save them from getting relegated from the DStv Premiership.
Middendorp to coach Cape Town Spurs next season
“Cape Town Spurs are pleased to announce that coach Middendorp will be returning to the “Impossible Mission” he once labelled the experience to be after he took over the team in November with only three points on the board,” the club on their website.
“This turn of events signifies that both club and coach are fully invested in the vision that Cape Town Spurs FC set for itself after the withdrawal of Ajax Amsterdam in October 2020.”
After leaving Cape Town Spurs, the former Kaizer Chiefs coach was linked with a move to Sekhukhune United. This came after Babina Noko placed their head coach Lehlohonolo Seema on special leave. Middendorp though has made a surprise U-turn this week and returned to Spurs.
Middendorp returns to the Urban Warriors
“I bought into the vision of the club from day one,” said the Cape Town Spurs coach.
“The picture that the board put in front of me, really excited me and we had started implementing the plans with the intention on building on this in the new season.
“Unfortunately, we were a couple of points short at the end and were relegated. The challenge of the project however remained in my mind even though the club and I decided to part ways.”
When I returned to Cape Town on Friday, I received a call from the directors to meet up for breakfast. We were able to carve a way through the obstacles that were originally there.
I requested the board to try keep the squad together and not sell players unless they received really strong offers. I am happy to say that we can now continue from where we left off and deliver, together with the board, the club that we all envisage to see one day attaining its rightful place in SA football,” Middendorp said.
He managed to get 20 points in the 19 games as Cape Town Spurs coach but that wasn’t enough to save them. The Urban Warriors now have to fight it out in the Motsepe Foundation Championship next season.