The Amakhosi crashed to a 1-0 defeat against Chippa United on the final day of the league season that saw Chiefs finish outside the top eight places for the first time since the 2006/2007 season.

Their total haul of 39 points is their worst tally since 1985 and Middendorp could not hide his disappointment after the final whistle.

Middendorp told SuperSport TV: "It's a disaster, absolutely a huge disappointment for not being in the top eight and not being part of the competition at the beginning of the season.

"We take it. [We] hit the goalpost, there was also a chance to have a penalty, dominating and attacking but in the end we didn't score.

"Now we're standing here out of the top eight. Certain circumstances you can't influence but I don't want to comment furthermore.

"We couldn't convert the chances we create and that's not only today. We can probably go ten or 11 games in the second half of the season."

Chiefs can still finish the season on a high though as they play the Nedbank Cup final against National First Division side TS Galaxy on 18 May.