Having taken over as the coach of The Amakhosi just about a year ago, Ernst Middendorp has learnt a lot about the pressure and joy’s that come with being the coach of the most successful team in the country.

The Chiefs coach is also well aware that with the kick off to the new season around eight weeks away the count down has begun for the 2006 – 2007 season. One of the lessons Amakhosi coach Middendorp says he has learnt is that if the pre-season preparations go well it will set the foundations for building a solid structure for the season ahead which will, as a result, bring in trophies and titles.

“Last season I did not have much time with the players before the season and it was a learning curve for all of us, this time around I am leaving nothing to chance from the beginning to the end in May 2007” says the Chiefs coach. Chiefs’ players will return for duty on the 26th June and will play their first pre season games when they participate in a four-team tournament in Polokwane in early July. Thereafter the coach is hoping to get the necessary win over Orlando Pirates in the Vodacom Challenge, which will mean that Chiefs will meet Manchester United twice, which will give them another game in pre-season against strong opposition.

“First up we are awaiting the return of the players and we will begin by assessing everyone’s fitness and get them into shape before playing some matches ahead of the Vodacom Challenge. We will use these games to try out different combinations and also get the new players to assimilate them into the team.” added Middendorp.

The coach has opted to keep the players really focused during the pre season by keeping the team’s preparations low key and out of the spotlight “to me these couple of weeks before the season start are most important. The players will need to get to know each other and build up a good spirit with each other, so we will work hard before the season kicks off because there will be a lot of time to play later on” he added.

Having not had enough time to work with his players before the start of the 2005 – 2006 Ernst Middendorp, is convinced that given the lead time he has to prepare his team for the upcoming season things are really looking up for Chiefs. With a number of tough examinations during the off season he will be looking at the matches against Orlando Pirates and Manchester United as a yard stick to test how his preparations will be going as well as his teams readiness to make an assault on the PSL when the 2006 – 2007 season begins in August.