The animosity between PSL coaches went up a notch after Cape Town Spurs head coach Ernst Middendorp opened up on his touchline quarrel with Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro.
TS Galaxy head coach Sead Ramovic and his counterpart at Mamelodi Sundowns, Rulani Mokwena, have been hogging headlines with their war of words going beyond the pitch and getting personal from late last year.
READ | Pirates held by resurgent Spurs
The Ramovic-Mokwena feud has had a series of spats and accusations in the media and, on Wednesday evening, another war of words ensued between Riveiro and Middendorp.
In the DStv Premiership encounter between Pirates and Spurs, the Spanish and German coaches were seen having a war of words on the touchline and, after the game, speaking to journalists in a post-match press conference, Middendorp appeared exasperated.
He explained he had never seen such in his 30 years of coaching, having shared opposite benches with the likes of Franz Beckenbauer and Jurgen Klopp in the Bundesliga.
"It's very obvious, I don't know what is it about but it was a fantastic time. That's why I mention 30 years ago, you had colleagues like (Giovanni) Trapattoni, like Otto Rehhagel, Franz Beckenbauer, Jurgen Klopp and so on... I can continue," Middendorp explained after Spurs' 1-1 draw against Pirates at Orlando Stadium.
READ | Riveiro: They need to feel the pain
"A coach in the Bundesliga, what I did over the years and you're on the sides, never something like this happened, never. I don't know what it is (exchange of unpleasant words with Riveiro), I don't know in which way, but it's definitely somebody wanted a reaction and he gets it, simple and easy.
"Colleagues being colleagues in the soccer industry, in particular here in South Africa, it's not existent, let's be clear and very honest," he added.
The Urban Warriors took four points off Bucs this season having beaten them 2-1 in the first-round encounter.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
Click HERE to register!