Bucs flying high for Igesund takes swipe return against Ahly at detractors after win
Group stage humbling has made us stronger, says Tinkler
RELIEVED that he had finally guided his side to a win after three successive defeats, SuperSport United coach Gordon Igesund found an opening to take a swipe at the media and his critics.
He suggested that the club’s recent poor run was being exaggerated, saying the hype around the quality in his team, which later turned into faultfinding because of the winless streak, had put Matsatsantsa under unnecessary pressure. Igesund made his remarks following SuperSport’s narrow 2-1 victory over Polokwane City in the opening round of the Telkom Knockout cup on Wednesday night.
The coach also revealed that winger Thuso Phala would no longer be continuing in his role as captain after the player said the responsibility was affecting his form.
“When you lose three games in a row, people think there’s trouble. In Europe, Manchester City have lost four games in a row [they’ve actually lost two], and Chelsea are struggling. It’s one of those things in football. In the league [SuperSport are in 13th place], all we need is one win and we are in
“The negativity is coming from everybody outside, the newspapers and all that. If they want to write like that it’s fine. We will prove ourselves because sometimes the criticism is good for the players to read and turn it into a positive. And winning with 10-men proved to a lot of people out there that this team is still fired up and wants to play.”
The four-times championship winner argued that SuperSport had their confidence back. He said: “No need to panic. In every game we have played, we haven’t played badly. The guys have played with the same passion and desire, but just making silly mistakes.”
On Phala, who will no longer be skipper, he said: “I was speaking to a couple of players and I also said to Thuso I wanted to get more out of him. But he said he needs to focus on his game and has requested I relieve him of being the captain.
“I told him I was happy with my decision to make him captain even though his form has dipped a bit. He said it dipped because he is focusing on other things when he should be focusing on his game.”
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Igesund. ORLANDO Pirates have learned from mistakes they made in the 4-1 group stage humbling by Zamalek, declared coach Eric Tinkler on his team’s departure yesterday for the second leg of their Caf Confederation Cup semifinal against Al Ahly in Suez.
Pirates have a 1-0 advantage from Saturday’s first leg at Orlando Stadium against Al Ahly to take to Sunday’s secondleg match at the 25 000-seat Suez Stadium.
Bucs were at the receiving end of a thrashing by Al Ahly’s Cairo rivals Zamalek in the Egyptian capital in their final group game on September 13.
Tinkler noted that any side was capable of getting on the wrong side of a heavy defeat on their day. Even one-time tournament favourites Zamalek seem destined not to reach the final after a 5-1 away drubbing of their own against Etoile du Sahel in the first leg of the other semifinal.
Tinkler said he and his technical team learnt lessons from their off day against Zamalek. “Yes definitely. We went there to try and win the group, and possibly we took too much risk, and we got punished. And I think that’s the lesson,” the former Bafana defensive midfield tough guy said at OR Tambo International Airport.
“We’re going there against Al Ahly now – yes we’ve got that 1-0 lead, and we need to go and look for that away goal. But, you know, you’ve got to keep the back door closed. That’s very, very important.”
The match is due to be played in front of an empty stadium due to a current spectator ban in Egypt.
Counter-attack seems the best form of defence for a Bucs team, whose strength is in attack. That said, a fine display by a somewhat makeshift back four at Orlando has left Tinkler still undecided over whether returning captain Happy Jele, back from suspension, should be reinstated.
“It’s great to have Happy back. He’s been extremely influential throughout the competition. And as yet I haven’t made that decision, because you’ve also got to reward the boys who have played, especially the back four. I thought Rooi Mahamutsa and Ayanda Gcaba were phenomenal.”
Tinkler said there was a psychological advantage for Bucs going to Egypt with a one-goal lead, compared to the 1-1 scoreline they took to Cairo in the 2013 Caf Champions League final against Ahly, where Pirates lost 3-1 on aggregate.
“It was important for us to keep a clean sheet at home. Because that away goal, it does give you a slight edge. And if we can get one away they need to get three to get through the tie.”
Pirates still have Oupa Manyisa and Brighton Mhlongo out injured, and defender Siyabonga Sangweni suspended.
Al Ahly – the defending champions who have won the Champions League five times since 2005 – appear confident they can reverse their single-goal deficit.
The Red Devils are desperate for a trophy having conceded their first Egyptian championship in nine to bitter rivals Zamalek, and last week losing the Egypt Cup final to the White Knights.
“We have to win the Confederation Cup as a consolation to our fans,” Ahly head coach Fathi Mabrouk said.