Middendorp gives brotherly advice to Mokwena ahead of Soweto Derby

Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has shared some brotherly advice for his Orlando Pirates counterpart ahead of the Soweto giants’ Telkom Knockout Cup quarterfinal at Moses Mabhida Stadium in on Saturday afternoon.

READ: Middendorp explains why he attends Sundowns games

Mokwena has been under pressure at the Buccaneers as things have not gone the way he would have hoped since taking over from Micho earlier this season. But asked what he thinks of Mokwena’s style and approach, Middendorp gave some encouraging words for him, telling him to build himself up.

“This question… I will basically not answer it because I have not worked with him,” said Middendorp in his response. “I haven’t seen him being responsible for the team over a certain period. But I think it is good that clubs (now) have the idea to bring coaches in with (different) ideas,” he added.

“I can’t really say too much about it in the certain period that he is in (as coach). (But) He will find this out over the years… build up your reputation. It doesn’t matter if you have a reputation of being a stubborn coach or a very serious one.

“But produce a reputation. This is what I always say to coaches that don’t try to copy, don’t try to paste. Just be yourself and see what you have to do. This is not done by you being in charge of a team for two months, it is done over years. You win you lose, you lose, you lose … It’s more like that and then you produce something.”

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