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A Trends Daily article published on Facebook says long-time Kaizer Chiefs football club midfielder Hendrick Pule Ekstein has resigned after a fight with Ernst Middendorp. Middendorp rejoined Chiefs as manager in December 2018 after having coached the side from 2005 to 2007. According to the article, a close source confided in a Mr Zungu that Ekstein, who has played in the Chiefs first team since the start of the 2015/16 season, was fed up with [Giovanni] Solinas, the previous manager, and would grab an opportunity to leave. But the article was published on 4 February 2019 - two months after Solinas left the club Credible South African sports website Kick Off reports that Ekstein’s contract with Chiefs comes to an end in June 2019. Its says the midfielder is not happy with his new contract, stalling negotiations and prompting speculation that he may sign with another club in the next season. Middendorp praises Ekstein But in contrast to the report of a fight with Middendorp, the manager recently praised Ekstein as an outstanding player with the ability to carry the team with his ideas, and one of the best players he had ever worked with. Middendorp said this after the Soweto derby between Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, the most popular soccer match-up in the South African Premier Soccer League. At the game on 9 February, Ekstein was in the Chiefs starting line-up . There have been no other reports of a falling out between Ekstein and Middendorp, or between Ekstein and the club. And comments on the Trends Daily Facebook post refer to its article as a joke, asking if the admin is smoking something. – Africa Check (13/02/19)
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