Kaizer Chiefs sacked Middendorp on Wednesday following their 2019/20 season heartbreak. This was following their rivals Mamelodi Sundowns Absa Premiership title winning in the weekend. Title that Chiefs had been strongly expecting to win.

Chiefs led the log standings for nearly 13 months before a final-day draw against Baroka saw Sundowns clinch their third successive league crown. While Amakhosi ended the campaign empty handed for a fifth year running.

“We deliberated and considered many aspects related to the team. Including our way of playing, our performances and the results before coming to the decision.” Motaung explained on the club’s website.

“We truly believed and hoped that our 50th anniversary would be better, and it indeed looked promising. The decision taken is part of a strategy to have the team win trophies again and to make our supporters happy. Because they deserve better.

“After giving the coach and the technical team the ammunition required to compete in the new season, there were some improvements. And this was evident during the first seven months of this 2019/2020 season.

“However, when the league restarted post-lockdown, things changed. And we looked a totally different side in our last eight league matches.

“We witnessed some heart-stopping performances. And we were overtaken on the log in the last game of the season, which truly broke our hearts. We have to take responsibility. We can’t wait and allow this situation to continue.” He concluded.