Orlando Pirates interim coach Eric Tinkler faces the toughest task of his coaching career - the Soweto derby.
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Eric Tinkler was renowned for his steeliness during his playing days, especially in the heart of the Bafana Bafana midfield where he destroyed opposition attacks before they could even begin.
He clearly hasn’t lost that quality.
Right now he should be a bundle of nerves, Tinkler having been thrown into the deepest end of the local game.
But the former Wits University player was calmness personified yesterday as he looked ahead to the biggest match of his coaching career.
Elevated to the caretaker coach position at Orlando Pirates who parted ways with Vladimir Vermezovic on Wednesday, Tinkler takes charge for the first time in the country’s biggest match – the Soweto derby against the slick machine that is Kaizer Chiefs.
“I read a headline that said ‘Tinkler faces Baptism of Fire’ and that’s very true. But I see myself as being very fortunate to get this opportunity to coach in such a huge match,” he said during the pre-match press conference held at the Carlton Centre in front of hundreds of excitable fans
“While I’ve played for a few clubs and even spent time overseas, this will be a first for me because I’ve never played in front of a 90000 crowd at club level. And it’s an opportunity of a lifetime for everyone, coaches and players alike.”
It is the second time he has been placed in charge of the Buccaneers following the departure of the head coach, Tinkler having stepped into the fray when his good friend Roger de Sa left.
This time though it is for a longer period as Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza has tasked him with steering the ship to calmer waters up until the end of the season. And Tinkler values Khoza’s belief in his abilities.
“I’ve been an assistant coach for about 10 years now, and I’m grateful the chairman has showed faith in me by putting me in charge for the rest of the season.
“Now it’s important for me to try and rebuild the team. This is a very big responsibility.”
The rebuilding begins with the tough task of leading Pirates in tomorrow’s derby against a Chiefs outfit that just can’t seem to put a foot wrong.
“Naturally we’re the underdogs. Chiefs are on fire at the moment. They are unbeaten in the league and are just fresh from a fantastic win at Wits. So I understand the kind of challenge that this match brings. And we’ve only had two days to prepare after the coach left. So it would be stupid of me to make big changes to the team or the way they play.”
He will, however, add the Tinkler touch to the side.
“Of course there might be a few tweaks here and there. But I’ve been part of this team for a while now and having been previously in charge they know my way of doing things.”
Pirates have had a poor run in the league and trail Chiefs by a massive 15 points. And Tinkler seems to have an idea of where their failings have been.
“I’ve been concerned with the way we’ve been conceding goals especially because the way we conceded them was the very way we’d worked hard at training to avoid,” he explained.
“Also we have let in nine goals from set-pieces and we all know how deadly Chiefs can be in that regard. So we will have to be careful in that respect. The key for us on Saturday will be to turn our opportunities into goals.”
And having used Wednesday and yesterday to work on the players’ confidence, Tinkler believes Pirates will be in the right frame of mind come kick-off.
“The key for me in this past days has been to get the players’ attitude right and they have responded well. There’s been happy faces at training. I’m sure we will come out of the match with a positive result.” - The Star
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