Remember Scara Ngobese? Middendorp clarifies why he benched him

Sibongiseni Gumbi — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:14:37 +0000

Ernst Middendorp has opened up on his often-scrutinised relationship with the late Kaizer Chiefs fan favourite Emmanuel “Scara” Ngobese. The German coach has explained why he sometimes had to bench the gifted attacker, saying it was for the good of the team. Middendorp, who has had two spells at Naturena between 2005–2007 and 2018–2020, was frequently criticised for allegedly restricting Ngobese’s natural flair.
Before Middendorp took over from the late Ted Dumitru, Scara was one of the top performers in the PSL and feared by Amakhosi opponents.
His natural ability to dribble past defenders was what made him a crowd favourite as fans enjoyed his tricks on the ball.
Speaking on the Car Wash 2.0 podcast recently, Middeddorp offered a different perspective, pointing to the club’s transition following their 2004/05 title-winning campaign.
He highlighted the impact of losing prolific striker Collins Mbesuma, whose goals had previously allowed creative players like Ngobese greater freedom on the pitch.
“In that season, everything was fine. You had goals, you had performances, and Scara contributed as well,” Middendorp explained.
However, once that attacking edge was lost, the team had to evolve.
“When you lose a player who scores that many goals, you don’t replace that easily. You have to find solutions collectively.
“It’s no longer just about entertainment; it’s about structure, combinations, breaking lines, and creating chances.”
According to Middendorp, that shift demanded tactical discipline from all players — including Ngobese, whose game thrived on individual brilliance and improvisation.
“You have to use your quality in the right direction, to go forward with purpose and to help the team score,” he said.
Middendorp admitted that managing such a transition was not straightforward, particularly as the full picture is often not visible from the outside.
“It’s very difficult for a coach because nobody sees it the way you see it. If results are not coming and options are limited, you need resilience and confidence to stick to your ideas.”
He concluded by stressing that at the highest level, individual expression must align with the team’s structure.
“If a player wants to do things without following the plan, there is no chance,” Middendorp added.
We have added a video compilation of some of Scara’s greatest moments in the Amakhosi shirt.

Watch Now:

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Remember Scara Ngobese? Middendorp clarifies why he benched him