Give Eric a tinkle for derby tips Kjell

SOWETO derbies are usually a mixed bag of emotions, and new Orlando Pirates coach Kjell Jonevret, pictured, will get a taste this Saturday.

Here we look at how three of his most recent predecessors fared in their very first clash against archrivals Kaizer Chiefs.

Muhsin Ertugral Period: June – November 2016

This wasn’t a totally new experience for the Turkish mentor, who had been in charge at Chiefs over two spells prior to being appointed as the Pirates coach in June last year. His first derby in the opposite dugout was widely criticised following a drab goalless draw, where both sides proved to be a little bit too cautious than usual. Ertugral had his game plan disrupted minutes before kickoff when winger Luvuyo Memela pulled out due of a stomach ailment, apparently caused by food poisoning. Ertugral had already lost captain Oupa Manyisa as a result of the same illness and Memela’s late withdrawal meant the Buccaneers were forced to tweak their approach.

Eric Tinkler Period: May 2015 – June 2016

If Jonevret wants to endear himself to the Pirates faithful, then he should give the gingerhaired Tinkler a call. Although he’d been involved in Soweto derbies before, as an assistant to Roger de Sa earlier and then Vladimir Vermezovic later, Tinkler’s first match against Chiefs as head coach was a marauding 3-1 victory that went down in the history books as one of the more entertaining clashes between these two giants in recent times. It was a dream fixture for the neutrals and those on the winning side, and the coach was unfortunate not to build on this performance as Pirates went on to struggle last season, finishing in seventh place in the Absa Premiership.

Vladimir Vermezovic Period: February – December 2014

Like Ertugral, the Serbian was a former Amakhosi coach who had now swapped the gold and black for the Sea Robbers kit. Having been part of Soweto derbies, “Vlad V” knew what to expect, but didn’t use that to his advantage as the Buccaneers were beaten 1-0 for his first derby as a Pirates coach. To his credit, the result could have gone either way with the two teams locked in a stalemate until midfielder Willard Katsande popped up in the Pirates box to head home the winner in the 61st minute. Yet again the derby was decided by the narrowest of margins, which has led to the two teams being slammed for playing to avoid defeat instead of going all out for a win. That’s not the kind of approach Jonevret should take when he takes his seat in the

dugout.