Cape Town Spurs head coach Ernst Middendorp says there are no colleagues in South African football after his touchline spat with Jose Riveiro.
The pair were seen in a war of words at Orlando Stadium in the 1-1 draw, which saw them secure seven points from three league games since the turn of the year.
Riveiro suggested that Spurs deserved the draw in his post-match press conference, while Middendorp hailed his charges work rate with Gabriel Kamagi netting a stunning second-half equaliser to cancel out Relebohile’s first half strike.
“Nothing [happened] we played the game and after 101 minutes, it was 1-1 that’s all,” Middendorp said about the touchline fracas.
The German coach, who’s spent over a decade coaching in the DStv Premiership went on to state the relationship, or lack thereof in South African football is unique.
“When you had colleagues like Giovanni Trapattoni, Otto Rehhagel, Franz Beckenbauer, like Jurgen Klopp where you coached in the Bundesliga over the years, and then you’re on this side? I never experienced something like this, never,” he said.
“I don’t know what it is, or in which way, it’s definitely something if someone wants a reaction then he gets it, it’s simple, easy, colleagues being colleagues, in the football industry here in South Africa does not exist, let’s be clear and very honest.”
With Spurs now handing themselves a fighting chance for survival as they are 10 points from safety with 11 games to go, behind 14th-placed Moroka Swallows – the Africa Cup of Nations break was credited as a huge boost.
“I’m not… there was coaches who promoted this team and did a fantastic job, it’s great, let’s be honest but of course, there were struggles at a certain point, I think sometimes you have to bring structure differently,” he explained about the recent form.
“We continued to struggle in November, December, we played a draw in Durban, but it was fantastic to then have six weeks pre-season and to put stuff together in a way as we want to see.”
