Ernst Middendorp has explained why he and Cape Town Spurs decided to make a u-turn on their decision to part ways.
Just last week, Spurs had announced they have mutually agreed to part ways with the German tactician, citing financial constraints in the Motsepe Foundation Championship as the main reason.
However, just a week later, they have reconsidered their options and back-tracked on their decision to part ways.
”I bought into the vision of the club from day one. 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,” Middendorp stated.
”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 yesterday, 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 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 will hope to retain the core of his squad, but this may be easier said than done, as many Spurs players have garnered attention this season despite the club’s relegation. There has been transfer speculation about players like Ashley Cupido, Rushwin Dortley, Liam Bern, Asanele Velebayi, and Chumani Butsaka, who Middendorp appointed as club captain earlier this year.
It is not clear whether Middendorp will reshuffle his technical team. Vasili Manousakis was the assistant coach, having joined Spurs just before Middendorp’s appointment. When Middendorp’s exit was announced, the former Richards Bay coach had been tipped to lead the club in the new season, but his future, and that of goalkeeper coach Thembalethu Moses, are still to be confirmed.
