Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp insists his side will work hard to ‘find the core’ from goalkeeper to centre-back position before their  opening Absa Premiership fixture against Highlands Park.

Orlando Pirates claimed the bragging rights and their fifth Carling Black Label Cup trophy after defeating Amakhosi 2-0 at the  FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
Two first half goals from Augustine Mulenga and Thembinkosi Lorch saw them miss out on another piece of silverware.

‘We have had a good pre-season,’ Middendorp told SuperSport TV after the game.

‘We worked hard, we challenged the players around the clock over these four weeks. I think overall the cohesion is quite good. Much better than before. That showed on the performance side today. The players will learn from this and do better next time.

‘We definitely will try to find the core, from the goalkeeper to the centre-back position. We will work hard in the last days of pre-season to work on our setup before the Highlands Park game.’

The German mentor felt his side had enough chances to win the game.

‘The result is definitely not the one we were looking for,’ he added.

‘We had the opportunities to score at least two goals. And the goals we conceded were from our own mistakes.

‘Next time the players will be sharper. They were only in training for two days before being voted in. This was a handicap for us. But this is soccer. We have to heed it. Even in the second half, we produced many opportunities and could have equalised at least.’