The appointment of Ernst Middendorp at Kaizer Chiefs as the club's head coach took the team's former goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez by a surprise.
However, Fernandez is not doubting that Middendorp is capable of bringing success to Amakhosi, although the former shot-stopper feels that it might take some time for the mentor to get to know the squad he has inherited from Giovanni Solinas.
Read: Rhee Reveals What Middendorp Is All About After His Chiefs Return
Middendorp got off to a flying start with a 1-0 win over SuperSport United on Wednesday evening in his first match on his return to Amakhosi.
Chiefs are fifth on the Absa Premiership log with 21 points from five wins, six draws and four losses from the 15 matches they have played so far in the 2018/19 season.
According to Fernandez, who played under Middendorp at Chiefs during the German tactician's first stint with the Soweto giants between 2005 and 2007, as well as at Arminia Bielefeld in Germany in 2007, the coach will need to be given some time to work on his combinations in attempting to bring success to the Naturena club.
Fernandez, who was Orlando Pirates' goalkeeping coach between 2015 and 2017, spoke about Chiefs' appointment of Middendorp as their head coach exclusively to Soccer Laduma radio.
"I was a little bit surprised by the appointment. But the nice thing is that he knows the club. Chiefs made a good appointment. A new coach always brings new hope to the club, but it will take some time to get to know the players. He is a very good tactician, very organised and a typical German coach. He needs to be given time to work with his combinations in order to bring success to the club," the former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper told Soccer Laduma radio.
