How Tinkler can come home with the trophy

ETOILE du Sahel coach Faouzi Benzarti had his team playing to a complex system in the 1-1 draw at Orlando Stadium in last Saturday’s first leg of the Caf Confederation Cup final.

His Orlando Pirates counterpart, Eric Tinkler, will have to get some key decisions right if Bucs are to overturn that result today.

Thabo Matlaba pressuring Alay Brigui

Brigui is the key player in Benzarti’s game plan. In defence, the player drops all the way back from playmaker to right wing-back, as Sahel set themselves out with five defenders and two defensive midfielders.

In attack, Brigui surges forward to attacking midfield along with huge centre-back Mohamed Ben Amor, making Etoile very dangerous on the counterattack.

Left midfielder Mpho Makola does not have the pace to pin Brigui back, but Thabo Matlaba does.

If Tinkler gives Matlaba free reign to go forward, defensive midfielder Lehlogonolo Masalesa covering for him, Benzarti’s game plan could fall apart.

Get Kermit Erasmus into the game.

The Buccaneers need to score, and for Erasmus to be influential.

Apart from putting the chip over defence for Thamsanqa Gabuza’s stunner, Erasmus had a quiet first leg.

Tinkler feels it was not Etoile who tied up Erasmus.

“I think we tried to play too much through the middle, which limited the space he needs,” the coach said.

Pirates need more width to free space for Erasmus.

Siyabonga Sangweni vs Rooi Mahamutsa at centre back

Warhorse Sangweni was exposed for pace by Confed joint top scorer with Gabuza on six goals, Baghdad Bounedjah. Tinkler, though, said he is wary of disrupting his lineup by bringing in the physicality and fight of Mahamutsa, who lacks game time having returned from injury.

“I don’t believe in making big changes, because I don’t think there are guarantees those will make the team better,” Tinkler said. “The guys have now learnt how Etoile play. So making a bunch of changes would be an error.”