Ahead of Sunday’s derby against Cape Town City, Cape Town Spurs head coach Ernst Middendorp is looking to see his team build on their last performance.
After a brief break for Christmas celebrations, Spurs have been back in training since the 26th.
On Friday iDiski Times‘ Rob Delport went to watch Spurs train and caught up with Middendorp after their session.
“We had only the Christmas Day, on the 25th, where we took a day off, the other days we were occupied with training sessions preparing ourselves for the game on the 31st against Cape Town City,” Middendorp said.
“And good, we still know that we have to do a very proper job. Of course, we are aware about it, to get something out of this game.”
Middendorp is under no illusions and says they are expecting a tough game against their Cape Town rivals.
“Ja, I think everybody has seen Cape Town City playing against Sundowns now some days ago,” Middendorp continued.
“A number of players have been in the stadium watching it, to see the elements, high pressing, good counter-pressing, quick transition and negative positive transitions, a lot of elements, and I said it already inside, we have to be at our best with all our capacities if we want to achieve something out of this game.
“We are aware about it in the moment and good, let’s wait and see. I haven’t really decided in which way to approach this game, how should be the set up. There are some options we’re discussing in the moment inside, but we have to be really good to get something out.”
Spurs missed a handful of players due to unavailability, injury and a flu bug against AmaZulu, but Middendorp confirmed those who had the flu are back.
“Most of the players are back into training sessions,” he confirmed.
“Back to this game in Durban, AmaZulu, I heard there are different opinions about it. But if somebody deserved to win this game, it was us. We had the goalpost shot, we had 2, 3, 4 really good (chances), one against the goalkeeper, two against one, and we haven’t really used the opportunities. It should have been 2-0, 3-0, counterattack and you allow the opponent to score in the end of the day.
“But it was definitely a performance which was much much better, entry into the final third, supporting each other in a better way, defensively and from the attacking side. So there we have to continue on this performance. The result was for me like a defeat, I said it already, despite we got a point.”
Surprise Ralani is also back at the club and available to face his former team, while Spurs are also hoping to have new signing Rafiq De Goede registered in time.
