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Cape Town - Maritzburg United chairman Farouk Kadodia has confirmed that the club have handed coach Ernst Middendorp a new two-year contract.
The new deal will be seen as a reward for the German coach, who managed to steer the Team of Choice away from the bottom of the table and towards a 14th-place finish in the Premiership standings that saw them survive relegation on the final day of the season.
"We have agreed a two-year deal with the coach," Kadodia told reporters at the club's annual awards.
"And take everything away and put the [last] six games and 11 points - those stats is what the team is capable for throughout the season. Ernst Middendorp is in the category of receiving those stats of averaging two points per game, he deserved this."
Middendorp has been tasked to secure a top-eight finish next season, and the former Kaizer Chiefs coach welcomes the challenge, adding that every professional coach should expect such mandates.
"It's normal and a good thing," Middendorp said. "Each and every club has that and I think we had a huge challenge in the beginning of January to stay in the league and it was a huge challenge.
"We were six points behind to close the gap and in the end of the 21st of May we had to be on top. But it is huge challenge we went in January and now of course there is another challenge in front of us."
