Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp will once again have his options open to him for this weekend’s crunch ABSA Cup round of 32 game against Golden Arrows, as midfield general Tinashe Nengomasha makes a return to first team action.

This after Tinashe missed the game against Wits over the weekend, as he was serving a one-match suspension after collecting his third yellow card of the season against Arrows on the 18th February. For his part the Amakhosi number eight cannot wait to get back onto the field and take another step towards adding to the array of silver ware he has accumulated over the past couple of seasons.

Having said that though the Zimbabwean international will not mind sitting on the bench on Sunday against Arrows, as he explains “my logic is simple why should the coach change a winning team, we played excellent football and won the game against a difficult opponent away from home”. Tinashe is of the opinion that to be successful as a team, thinking like as a unit will help the team achieve their goal of retaining their ABSA Cup title.

As Tinashe continues on he spells out what he means adding, “I saw the guys playing on Sunday and they did well, the thing is that I need to be honest to myself and admit that they put on a good display. The job for me now is to work hard in training to try and fight my way back, and if I’m unsuccessful in getting the nod to play on Sunday then I will lend my voice behind the guys. After all this is my team and when I am playing I would also like for the guys on the bench to be behind me, for us to be successful we need to support each other as team-mates and friends”.

In the absence of the midfield general Jimmy Tau assumed the role usually filled by Tinashe, Tau has received numerous plaudits for his performance on Sunday and the latest coming from Tinashe himself. “Jimmy did not look out of place playing in the midfield he slotted in well and he was a real cool customer, I was really amazed as to how quickly he adapted to playing in the middle of the park”.

It will really please Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp to see his players complimenting each other on their achievement as well as coming out in full support of one another, as Chiefs embark on another historical Cup chasing missions. It all begins on Sunday afternoon and the general will eagerly wait to see if he will be allowed to marshal the troops in battle against Arrows.