Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has received high praise and appreciation from a former Orlando Pirates coach who believes he fails to get the credit he deserves in South Africa.
Middendorp has been in the country for more than a decade and someone who has worked with him closely, Maahier Davids, has hailed the German's influence on his career.
Davids, who is currently head coach of Cape Umoya United in the GladAfrica Championship, says he and his brother Fadlu's progress have been helped by two coaches in particular, Roger de Sa and Ernst Middendorp.
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Middendorp gave the Davids brothers an opportunities during his time at Maritzburg United and they never looked back as they are now two of the most exciting young coaches in the PSL.
"I don't think there's any secret, it's all about respect. We respect ourselves, our opponents and people general," says Maahier.
"That must be given credit on how we were brought up by our parents of course. The next thing, we have mentors. We have mentors in this football world. We know football can be rough but you guys might know who are our mentors.
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"Right now I work closely with Roger de Sa and I worked closely with Ernst Middendorp in the past as well. We are still in contact. We still talk all the time.
"I'm glad he is doing well. Let's hope he continues but that's just a combination of those things, hard work and learning."
Middendorp is one of those coaches who hardly gets praise in the country for his contribution.
Davids says the Chiefs coach has done extremely well developing players and we are lucky to have him.
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"I think South Africa is lucky to have a person like Ernst Middendorp in our football for so long. He has developed so many players, given youngsters a chance in every club he has coached," Davids explains.
"In terms of coaches as well, he can identify a good coach. He's very open, shares his ideas, encourages and helps, and he's straight [talking]."
One of the main reasons Middendorp gets critics in the country is the way he expresses himself and the Cape Umoya coach believes many are judging him unfairly because of his way of communicating.
"That's one thing that is perhaps the misconception with Ernst," he adds. "He's straight and calls it as it is, and if you can take it there's so much you can learn from him."
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