Maritzburg United caretaker coach Fadlu Davids paid credit to his predecessor Ernst Middendorp for laying the foundation for a possible top eight finish this season after a valuable point gained away at outgoing champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday.
It is a turn about for the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands club who narrowly saved their top flight status last season but now stand a chance of finishing in the top eight for just a second time.
“The structures were put in place when we saved relegation on the last day in the last 10 minutes of the league last season after which Ernst Middendorp cleared out and signed crucially experienced guys to be able to help these younger boys to shine.
- Perennial caretaker Davids did in three games what predecessor Sa couldn’t do in seven outingsFadlu Davids remains humble despite turning things around at Maritzburg United to a point that the club believes that they can finish in the top eight.
“And that is the foundation and structure that was laid and we are just continuing with those structures‚” he said.
Davids is expected to be named permanent coach next season after taking over from Middendorp in October and then again from Roger de Sa in March.
Last season he also stepped in temporarily to take charge of the team after the respective departures of Mandla Ncikazi and Clive Barker.
- Bidvest Wits crowned PSL champions with a game to spare Bidvest Wits became league champions first time in their history on Wednesday night in the finest style of professionalism that has been the great South African club's hallmark of their 96-year history.
Davids received praise from Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane for the way Maritzburg have put themselves into top eight contention this season and the man himself praised the performances of many of the younger players in the team.
“The players have really stepped up and put in the performances and changed their mindset and want to achieve something so my time as coach has given me joy in that regard.
“These young boys‚ these Diski boys‚ have taken the step up to be PSL players and then held their own against top teams.
- Chiefs misery continues after 2-0 defeat away at Platinum Stars As their feeble season continued, Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela increasingly wore the look of a medical practitioner with a diagnosis but in short supply of medicine.
"It’s a proud moment for both them and me to take step up from the Multichoice Diski competition.”
Maritzburg effectively need only to draw their last match of the season at home to Bloemfontein Celtic on May 27 to make sure they will participate in next season’s MTN8 competition.
- TMG Digital/TMG Sport
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 