Middendorp to sleep for week before deciding future

Veteran coach Ernst Middendorp says he will need to sleep for ‘six to seven’ days before making any decision on his future after the end of the DStv Premiership season on Saturday.

The 65-year-old coach proved unable to save Cape Town Spurs from relegation despite a late flurry of positive results, including beating Kaizer Chiefs 2-0 in= their last game of the season on Saturday.

Spurs ended last with 23 points, seven adrift of second from bottom Richards Bay.

Middendorp arrived in November at the ailing club, which had won a single game in the term. His record with the team was five wins in 20 games.

“I have no idea actually,” said Middendorp about his future, although club officials said they were keen to try and keep him on.

“I said to myself let's really concentrate and focus on the games we had to play. I will definitely need six or seven days. Just probably sleep and not to do anything.

“But we’ll talk and we will look into it what's possible.”

Middendorp suggested many of Spurs’ younger players might be heading out the door.

“Of course, we have to see what's coming. A lot of teams have been already knocking on the door.”

Middendorp himself made some suggestions for sales.

“If I would be coaching another team, I would go for Asenele (Velebayi), I would go for (Ashley) Cupido, I would go for Liam (Bern), I would go for Siviwe (Nkwali), I would go for Rushwin (Dortley).

“On Friday I watched the club’s 17-18 years and I would take definitely eight to 10 players to the first team squad.”

The much travelled Middendorp, who worked in the Bundesliga in his native Germany and in Ghana, Ethiopia and Thailand, has been involved in South African football for some 20 years and at eight different clubs.