Ball handler Dumisani Zuma of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership match between Chippa United and Kaizer Chiefs at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. (Photo by Richard Huggard/Gallo Images)
Zuma scored a brace in Chiefs’ 2-0 win over Chippa United in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday evening.
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After the game, Middendorp admitted Zuma’s performance will make it difficult not to select him in the starting line-up in the derby.
“If a player scores two goals coming out of the game, I think it’s not a secret, we coaches around the world we think about ‘hmm, he’s in such a good mood’, can be an option for the Saturday game, there’s no doubt about it,” Middendorp told SuperSport TV.
Meanwhile, the German mentor revealed that he knew that Amakhosi would break down the resolute Chippa defence in the second half following a goalless draw in the first half.
“I said it at half-time already, very scrappy first 20 minutes no doubt about it, a good approach from Chippa. With a small alignment at the beginning of the second half, so far we had it under control, I had a feeling it was a question of time.
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“In the end good, if you see a game like this then you know we didn’t have six or seven players (regulars) on the field today comparing to Saturday, that is our advantage, a little bit rusty, players coming in like [Siphosakhe] Ntiya-Ntiya, like Philani [Zulu], Siyabonga Ngezana, the entire defence line. Good they managed it to make it happen,” he added.
“We know in front we have the capacity, individual performance or in combination to score, set-piece, whatever, but ja, I think what’s important for us is to make the three points.”
Middendorp said he felt sorry for Chippa who had to make all three substitutions in the first half as a result of injuries.
“The first half three players [from Chippa got injured]. That’s not the result of today, it’s a result of the 120 minutes they played on Sunday, and that’s it. I wish them good, hopefully they get the points they need,” concluded Middendorp.
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