Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp didn't mince his words about the club's objective in the Nedbank Cup this weekend.
Amakhosi are away to minnows The Magic FC in the Round of 16 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth and the German mentor stressed the significance of progressing to potentially end Amakhosi's trophy drought that has stretched into a fourth season.
"I have mentioned this before – we are obligated to qualify," he said at a press conference this week.
"In showing that we are serious, we are not looking around to see what is available so far. We play the best eleven, that's it. We don't have this mentality to play our second or third (string squad) or take it easy by showing our disrespect to the opposition, of course not."
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Chiefs haven't won any silverware since May 2015 under then coach Stuart Baxter, who quit following three very successful years and was replaced by Steve Komphela. In contrast, Komphela – while consistently in and among the title challengers – failed to win a trophy in three seasons with Amakhosi.
Middendorp was appointed coach in December after Giovanni Solinas had his contract with the club terminated just five months into the job.
