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Middendorp is one of the well-travelled coaches, having been in most corners of the PSL - the German has seen it all, and in a candid interview on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cVl3VZblxA&amp;t=2174" target="_blank">Prime Sports with Mahlatse</a>, he talks about how showboating should be a thing of the past.The ex-Kaizer Chiefs mentor is now at the helm of Cape Town Spurs as he is tasked with saving the Urban Warriors' sinking ship.

Ex-Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp reflects on Scara Ngobese's skills and how he helped improve MLS & Bafana Bafana star Bongokuhle Hlongwane

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/saleng-plays-better-without-unprofessional-maswanganyi-who-dribbles-his-own-shadow-steve-komphela-talks-too-much-only-fluke-wins-fans/bltbef946dbbdec6eaa" target="_blank">Like some Orlando Pirates fans who branded Patrick Maswanganyi as unprofessional </a>after the Buccaneers Soweto Derby win - Middendorp is also of the view that a number of PSL stars lack professionalism."South African players are very skillful and very gifted but they have to learn to be professional and I can make an example. The skills, the talent and the basic techniques - that's one part of being a professional," he told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@primesportswithmahlatse" target="_blank">Prime Sports with Mahlatse</a>."The second and main part is the mindset and being prepared to identify what is necessary. There is also the commitment, the focus and learning to prepare yourself for the physical aspects of playing football these days because that is very crucial," he added.

Unprofessional PSL players

"He was just driving around and being the big shot in the reserve team and had some moments playing in the PSL but he was not really serious. I took him totally, even from the training process. "I told him to show me commitment and four weeks later he was outstanding and then he was our leading striker consistently and look at where he is today," Middendorp about Minnesota United striker Bongokuhle Hlongwane.

Transformation of MLS & Bafana star

The late Emmanual 'Scara' Ngobese - the duo worked together in Middendorp's first stint at Chiefs between 2005 and 2007 where 'Scara' was the darling of the Amakhosi faithful because of his famous 360 degree turn."He was a fantastic player, no doubt about that. He was outstanding in what he could contribute but very often got carried away. But I liked him and I tried to convince him to use his skills for the benefit of the team and he is one of the players who should have been on a higher level professionally. He had all the skills and the body and everything to make it happen," said the former Chiefs coach.

Which showboater irked him the most?  

"Showboating is a description of a scenario every professional football player should forget about," Middendorp explained, sending a clear message to his Urban Warriors."Using your dribbling skills, one against one or against two, that's fantastic. No coach in the world would stop that. But sometimes you have players who are in the box and are very skillful, you ask them to put pressure on the defenders and then you see the player taking the ball and running to the midfield and showboating, putting the knee on the ball.

Enough is enough?

"And then in the end they ask 'why did we not win'. No coach in the world will stop players from using tricks but use the tricks with the purpose to force an opponent to foul you or to go through. The rest we must forget about - go to the market place and do your showboating there," Middendorp said.

The consequences

Middendorp is currently under the employ of a fourth club since January 2023 as he was at the helm of Moroka Swallows earlier this year before very brief spells at German side SV Meppen and Tanzanian outfit Singida Fountain Gate.His biggest achievement in the PSL was guiding Amakhosi to a second place finish in the 2019/20 season where they surrendered the league title to Mamelodi Sundowns on the last day.

Did you know?

Ex-Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp reflects on Scara Ngobese's skills and how he helped improve MLS & Bafana Bafana star Bongokuhle Hlongwane | Goal.com South Africa

Ernst Middendorp takes a swipe at South African players, suggesting that Premier Soccer League stars are not professional enough. 

Ex-Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp reflects on Scara Ngobese&apos;s skills and how he helped improve MLS &amp; Bafana Bafana star Bongokuhle Hlongwane