We started out the week on a light note as we veered away from our usual routine on Monday and instead of having a training session we headed for the rural surroundings of the Hartebeespoort dam for a team building exercise.

Many of the players had expected and easy day, but were shocked to find that although we did not have training the exercises were just as grueling and physically taxing but in a different way.

The idea of the exercise was to give the players a chance to get to know each other and help one another build trust in each other as we navigated some rough and treacherous terrain in some of Nissan’s latest toys. I was very impressed by the vehicles that we test drove on Monday and I particularly enjoyed driving the Nissan Pathfinder, it brought out the young man in me going through ditches and up cliffs.

I must say I have never experienced anything like this, for the me it came evident as the day wore on the group got closer as one and cheered each other one as we moved from activity to activity.

On Tuesday we held one training session in the morning and than headed back towards the Hartebeesport dam as we went to the Cradle of human kind Restaurant for the clubs annual end of the year function. Unlike on Monday where just the team, technical staff and a few others were involved on Tuesday we had all the staff of the Kaizer Chiefs village there.

Sometimes the team becomes so aloof from the rest of the people employed by the team that players are not aware of the people who set the lunch table for them every day or who ensures we have a well manicured lawn. This was the opportunity for the players to get to know other members of staff better and also for the senior and younger players to become friendlier in a calm social environment.

With all the pleasantries of the week out of the way Wednesday has seen us getting back into our full programme, with a training session at the Village in the morning and a practice game scheduled for FNB Stadium in the afternoon.

Pirates are now behind us as we now turn our attention to Khanbo Zondo and his young Golden Arrows team. We need to guard against complacency and getting speared by an ever-improving Golden Arrows team, they have a young squad who are playing entertaining and exciting soccer.

Let us pull our minds back two months ago as this was when Arrows put a dagger into Pirates unbeaten league record for the year and beat the Buccaneers 2-1 at the Kings Park Soccer Stadium in Durban.

Love and Peace!

Ernst Middendorp


Kaizer Chiefs Head Coach