Battle-scarred tactician Ernst Middendorp has proved to be the master guide of Maritzburg United’s fortunes on the park again, without anybody needing to fully grasp his workings.
Following his team’s crucial 1-0 victory over Baroka at Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday, secured by veteran “warrior defender” Clayton Daniels’ rare first-half volley, 63-year-old Middendorp has now helped modest Maritzburg to avoid relegation from the DStv Premiership two seasons in a row and three times over the past decade.
The well-travelled coach from the west German town of Freren has certainly done heaps of important work for the largely-unsponsored “Team of Choice” in the results column during his four spells in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands overall since 2009.
