Tinkler urges bravery as Sekhukhune chase MTN8 comeback

Eric Tinkler wore a weary smile at the PSL offices on Thursday during the pre-match press conference ahead of Sekhukhune United’s MTN8 semi-final second leg against Stellenbosch.

The coach’s expression reflected the exhaustion he has endured over the past three weeks due to mounting expectations.

Babina Noko assembled a strong squad during pre-season, and there were high hopes for them to build on their fourth-place finish in last season’s league campaign. They duly answered the call, beating TS Galaxy in the MTN8 quarter-final and Orlando Pirates in their Betway Premiership opener.

Their impressive league run continued with another victory over Galaxy at home, before suffering a rude awakening with a 2-0 defeat to Stellenbosch in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final away. Tinkler lamented after that defeat that his troops had not followed instructions — an error they corrected by thrashing Orbit College 3-0 in the league on Wednesday night.

Having endured a rollercoaster of results in recent weeks, Tinkler cut a stern and weary figure in Parktown. Despite the deficit and the possibility of missing out on one of their season targets, the ginger-haired coach insists they cannot throw in the towel just yet.

“I try to treat this game as the second half of the tie, and turn it around like we did against TS Galaxy,” Tinkler said, referencing their comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2.

“We obviously have to take more risks in attack, be braver on the ball, and more assertive going forward. But you mustn’t be reckless.

"You know they are going to hit you on the break and counter-attack. Your work ethic and concentration levels must be high. Most importantly, you need to stay positive, go out there, and try to get that early goal. A 2-1 lead is never a comfortable position.”

Tinkler may still be chasing his first Wafa Wafa trophy with Sekhukhune, but he knows what it takes to win the competition, having lifted it with the now-defunct SuperSport United in 2017. He admitted he wants to create another milestone with Babina Noko, especially after the team has grown in leaps and bounds since he took charge earlier this year.

“I think it would be massive to reach a cup final,” Tinkler said. “That’s the target we set at the beginning of the season: to try and go all the way.

“Obviously, the players know the importance of turning the result around. For a club like Sekhukhune, winning a cup would add a piece of history to what the club has already achieved.

“Since I’ve been here, we’ve broken a number of records, and hopefully we can continue doing that. That’s the objective.”

Tinkler may be the chosen leader of Babina Noko, but he knows he needs the buy-in and contribution of everyone — especially the players — to succeed.

“I asked the players, ‘What do you want? Do you want a coach-centred team or a player-centred team?’” Tinkler explained.

“I can be a dictator if you want me to be, or I can be a leader if that’s what you prefer. So you must choose: dictator or leader. The players chose a leader.

“They’ve taken that ownership and created a culture within the team. For that reason, we see what we see right now: character, discipline, and unity within the squad.”