Four years on and Kaizer Chiefs' loss to TS Galaxy in the 2019 Nedbank Cup final still haunts Ernst Middendorp, who is now the head coach of Swallows FC.
Read: Consistency The Major Issue With Zwane's Chiefs?
It appears that Gavin Hunt's 2-1 loss against Dondol Stars on Tuesday evoked some painful memories for the German tactician.
Many will remember that Middendorp was at the helm of Amakhosi in 2019 when the side was beaten by then GladAfrica Championship (Now Motsepe Foundation Championship) side TS Galaxy in the Nedbank Cup final.
Despite what many dubbed as a 'disaster' Middendorp maintains that upsets are a common occurrence in football all across the world.
"I find it very interesting to see. Pirates lost in former years Maluti FET 4-1 or something like this. The Dondol loss now. It will always happen. What is more dramatic to lose against Maluti or Dondol in the first round? Or is it more dramatic if you go all the way with the team to the final and then you lose against a lower division side? I don't know. What's more painful? What's more discussable? What's more delicate or whatever. I have no idea, but it this time it happens all the time," Middendorp told journalists at the Nedbank Cup media day.
"I remember it was described as a disaster. It's ICU. Guys, football is a worldwide, respectful game and you play 11 against 11. If you play football with your body with your mindset. And it's the mindset that the brain of some of guys in certain teams are not working, It doesn't matter which team or which players we are talking about. You can do whatever you want as a as a coach you can. You can swap around. You can be the crazy man on the side if it is gone and you feel it. And I'm quite sure that Kevin Hunt will tell you at a certain moment he thought something will happen here today. You feel it. You know what's, you know the players, how far they are," he continued.
Middendorp will face topflight opposition this time around as his side take on Stellenbosch FC to see who will progress to the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup.
Read: Zwane Matches Chiefs' Heaviest Defeat Record
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