With Ernst Middendorp now leading the sessions, Maritzburg United assistant coach Delron Buckley says training has been intensive ahead of their DSTV Premiership game against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.
The Team of Choice have had a disastrous start to the season, losing all matches so far, and that led to the club parting ways with former coach Eric Tinkler.
Middendorp was appointed last Thursday, but watched from the stands as Maritzburg lost to SuperSport United the following day.
While it will be a difficult challenge against the league champions, Buckley is upbeat that Maritzburg can start turning things around.
“Coach Ernst Middendorp has taken the training sessions this week and the sessions were very intensive,” Buckley said to the club’s website.
“The morale of the players has picked up and the players’ response has been very good – as you know with coach Middendorp, he doesn’t beat around the bush.”
“He wants players that want to work for him, he wants players that can do the job for him. If you are taking things easy at training he will let you know you are not in a comfortable position. You have got to work for your position no matter which player it is.”
“Its opened up the players’ eyes, they realise that we have to work hard. Training sessions this week were tight, getting the players to get stuck in to tackles, duels, the players having to play out of tight positions. And the players responded well to that, you could see also the fitness picking up, which is very good for us.”
“Coach Middendorp has his ideas, systems and his concepts on how he wants to present the team against Sundowns which I think is going to be appropriate for us.”
