Middendorp Reveals Plans To Navigate Around Transfer Ban

Swallows head coach Ernst Middendorp has bemoaned a fixture schedule after their return from the long break in December, while also tackling the club's transfer ban.

The Birds held their own against Sundowns, as their resolute defence was only breached just after the hour-mark with quick goals by Neo Maema and Themba Zwane.

Middendorp says Sundowns' extra day of rest was a factor, as the Brazilians played against Orlando Pirates last Friday while the Soweto side was in action on Saturday, before their Tuesday encounter.

Read: Middendorp Makes Bold Sundowns Prediction

"Based on our situation, having this package of three games in six days, Saturday to Friday, including travelling from Durban," Middendorp told the media.

"A number of players not available, a number of players have been coming out of injuries from November, December

"But good, it was one day too close, we played on Saturday afternoon, Mamelodi Sundowns played on Friday, good we have on Friday the next game," he said.

The former Chiefs coach also complained over the lack of resources at Swallows, with a number of players injured and the FIFA transfer ban making things worse.

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The German mentor went on to compare their humble setup with Fiat 500 and that they don't yet have the capacity to compete in Formula One.

"It's a difficult situation, Musa (Nyatama) did a good job and Dylan Kerr before too. The setup we try to bring based on the resources that we have and that's always something," he carried on.

"You cannot put something and play 'Shoeshine' soccer when you don't have the resources, you cannot go with Fiat 500 and you want to win Formula One. That's not possible, stick to the resources, stick to what you have and develop it.

"We have to look into our Diski side, I saw at training two or three, figured out, we have other players now on the bench, Ian Makaringe and other guys, we have to bring them in and closer to help in particular now everyone knows the difficulty we have with the FIFA ban," he added.

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