Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp admitted that he has already seen progress from his squad at Naturena just a week after arriving.

The German coach returned to the club to replace the outgoing Giovanni Solinas last week, and guided the Soweto giants to a 1-0 victory over SuperSport United in his first game at the club on Wednesday night.

Middendorp, who had a spell at Chiefs from July 2005 to March 2007, where he won the Absa Cup and SAA Supa8, has been tasked with turning the team’s fortunes around after an inconsistent start to the season.

The former Maritzburg United coach admitted after the game against SuperSport that although the result was positive, a lot of work still needed to be done.

‘I watched the players, how they do the job and how they are responding, and it is good,’ Middendorp said.

‘As coaches, it is always something that you want to see, moving forward and making progress. But I’m too long in this lovely soccer business. I know a line of progress, a line of work, a line of wherever you want to go, it is never straight.

‘I’m not celebrating too much and I’m not too disappointed. I know that if you have a bigger frame to it then you must be aware of it. The line is not straight, it should be progress.

‘Of course, it is a job to do on one side, but at this second I’m aware that I’m not always an easy person. Sometimes, I’m a little bit controversial and not everybody likes it. Sometimes I have some crazy ideas of positioning players. I’m aware of that.

‘But I can only promise one target, to maximise the potential of the team and the performance level of Kaizer Chiefs. To be successful in the end, that’s my main job.

‘You will understand that there is not too much capacity left to be busy with other stuff. I’m ready to put myself in this direction and it is quite a good feeling that the supporters are happy with everybody who is part of this team,’ concluded the German tactician.

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