Middendorp not perturbed by Sundowns in title chase: 'I'm not looking left or right'

• Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp admits he is not concerned with any other team in the league besides Amakhosi.
• The German has revealed that he's been employed by Chiefs with a different kind of "portfolio".
• The Glamour Boys are six-points ahead of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns on the Absa Premiership log.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp revealed he is not taking notice of how fellow title contenders Mamelodi Sundowns are performing.

Amakhosi increased their lead at the summit of the Absa Premiership standings with a thrilling 3-2 win over Polokwane City on Saturday.

Chiefs now hold a six-point gap over the Brazilians with Pitso Mosimane's charges having played one match less than the Glamour Boys.

During the post-match press conference, Middendorp was asked whether he felt more relieved after Masandawana dropped points against Highlands Park on Friday evening.

He was quick to respond: "Have you seen me showing relief? I don't think so, actually I try to be as less emotional as possible because this is a total different situation for each and everybody.

"It's not about the relief for me, it's about the ambition Kaizer Chiefs had set in the beginning of the season."

He added: "Honestly, I was really busy last night with preparing for this game, I saw only the result [of the Sundowns game].

"I'm not really looking left or right, 'where and how they are playing?' That is not my job. Kaizer Chiefs is paying me for a different portfolio."

Meanwhile, the Amakhosi head coach also praised Serbian forward Samir Nurkovic who has been a pivotal force in helping them put up a battle for the title since joining the Naturena side at the start of the campaign.

"No doubt, Samir Nurkovic is a player who demonstrates the ambition and spirit that you need," the German coach said.

"For each and everybody... ready to influence [his] team-mates and each and every player around him... that's very important.

"He is one of our core players and one of the guys who has [made a] huge contribution to the current position Kaizer Chiefs is in."

The 28-year-old has 13 league goals this season as he attempts to battle Orlando Pirates star Gabadinho Mhango (currently the top scorer with 14 goals) for the Absa Premiership's Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot.

Chiefs are back in action on Wednesday against Bloemfontein Celtic, with kick-off at 18:00.