Tinkler’s men chase history
SEMIFINAL: SUPERSPORT’S AWAY FORM A HUGE BONUS
United hoping to replace Sundowns as African champions.
SuperSport United are chasing a victory or a high-scoring draw in Tunisia tomorrow against Club Africain that will be enough to see them into the 2017 Caf Confederation Cup final.
Matsatsantsa drew 1-1 with Club Africain in the first leg in Tshwane, a far from ideal result, but their away form in this tournament has been good enough to suggest they can stun the Tunisians on their own turf, or at least get the 2-2 draw that would see them go through on away goals.
Club captain Dean Furman wants to help his side to secure its place in the club’s history by becoming the first South African team to win the competition in its current format.
“We know what is up for grabs and if we can go out and win it, it would really cement our place in SuperSport’s history and we will be spoken about for a very long time and as players that is something that we are all striving for.
“We knew that it was going to be hard from the start and we have done incredible journeys ... if you factor in everything we have gone through and got this far, it makes it huge for us to go all the way,” said Furman.
Furman is delighted to have the experience of Eric Tinkler in their change-room, as he feels the former Orlando Pirates mentor’s know-how on the continent, both as a coach and as a player, will come in handy at this stage.
“For us as players to have a coach like Eric, who has not only been there as a coach but as a player too is massive. He knows what it takes to go out there and win this competition ... that is the sort of experience he is imparting to us and we can’t put a price on it.”
Tinkler did guide Orlando Pirates to the final of the Confederation Cup in 2015, though they lost to Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel. The SuperSport coach has already picked up his first trophy since joining Matsatsantsa ahead of the start of this season, lifting the MTN8 last weekend.