TINKLER TAKES ON POISONED CHALICE
TINKLER: BEING SACKED IS PART OF THE MODERN GAME
Eric Tinkler says he is not concerned about the trigger-happy reputation of Chippa United owner Siviwe Mpengesi, as he takes his first training session today as the new head coach at the Chilli Boys.
Tinkler had been out of the game for six months after leaving SuperSport United in March, and has now signed a one-year deal with the Chilli Boys, perhaps a reflection of the tendency of Chippa to sack coaches regularly.
“That is why I say it is important to negotiate terms,” said Tinkler, when asked about going to work for an owner with such a reputation.
“You get the opportunity to negotiate and once you have negotiated, whatever happens, you have to accept it. I am happy with the terms we have agreed, but I don’t focus on that, I will focus on being successful. Being sacked is part of the modern game, it can happen.”
Tinkler had sympathy for Dan Malesela, sacked by Chippa yesterday after just three games in charge this season.
“Obviously, nobody likes to see coaches sacked, but it is the nature of the beast and it becomes harder and harder,” he said.
In Port Elizabeth this morning, Tinkler will take charge of several players he has coached before, like Thabo Rakhale and Daine Klate.
“I do think they (Chippa) have decent squad, a good balance between experience and youth, some players I know from Pirates and other clubs, with them I will know what their philosophy is,” added the new Chippa coach.
Tinkler has experienced plenty of highs and lows in his time as a head coach. He reached the 2015 Caf Confederation Cup final with Orlando Pirates, and the 2017 Caf Confederation Cup final with SuperSport. Tinkler won the 2016 Telkom Knockout with Cape Town City, while also lifting the 2017 MTN8 at the helm of SuperSport. At the same time, Pirates did not renew Tinkler’s contract at the end of the 2015/16 season, while his time at SuperSport also ended under a cloud, with the club deep in relegation trouble.
“You learn from those experiences, every experience so far has made me stronger as a coach,” added Tinkler, whose first game with Chippa, ironically, will be at SuperSport on August 29.