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Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt has praised Ernst Middendorp for inspiring Kaizer Chiefs to top spot on the Premier Soccer League this season.
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Amakhosi entered the enforced break, as a result of the coronavirus, four points clear of Mamelodi Sundowns, although having played one game more.
They have been in fine form and well deserving of their current position, says Hunt, whose own side are in sixth place on the PSL standings, some 10 points adrift.
Chiefs ended the previous season in a lowly ninth place, having also lost to TS Galaxy in the Nedbank Cup final.
But with a couple of shrewd signings and some good man-management Middendorp has turned the club's fortunes around.
Hunt told TimesLive: "I think they made one or two good signings. And I think what they've done well this year at Chiefs is found a way to play with the players that he [Middendorp] has got.
"They do play a little bit differently to most teams in South Africa - the way that the team is set up. And that’s all credit to Ernst and his coaching staff.
"That’s experience. And he’s got that experience. I mean he’s been around for ages‚ and he knows what to do and not to do‚ and he’s proved again this year he knows what’s happening.
"To play with those two strikers [Samir Nurkovic and Leonardo Castro] up-front the way he does - obviously it’s what he’s got."
He added: "When Stuart [Baxter] was there he won the league playing counterattack football. And fair play - he’s won trophies‚ you can’t take it away from them.
"Everybody wants to play like Barcelona or Real Madrid. But you’ve got to have the players to do that.
"The bottom line is you've got to find a way to get the best out of what you've got.
"You’ve got to give Ernst and his team credit this season for where they are."
- TEAMtalk media
