Kannemeyer is cautious
Eric Tinkler says the international break will work in their favour as his SuperSport United side will use the opportunity for recuperation in preparation for the second leg of their MTN8 semifinal against Maritzburg United on September 9.
The two sides played out a 1-1 draw in Atteridgeville on Saturday, giving Maritzburg a slight edge heading into the second match at Harry Gwala Stadium.
Five of Tinkler’s players have been called up for the World Cup qualifier away to Cape Verde this Friday, while his team will have to play the Ke Yona Team on Sunday afternoon in the Ke Yona Challenge, but he has said he will hand that responsibility to his fringe players.
“We played two games within six days, we didn’t have a proper pre-season and there are still certain aspects of our game that we still need to improve,” said Tinkler.
The former Cape Town City mentor is confident his side can muster a victory at Harry Gwala Stadium to send SuperSport through to the MTN8 final for the first time in four years.
“We have to suck up the pressure there because we have to try and get the away goal. I think they will possibly try to sit back and defend and look to hit us on the counter, and that means we have to create the opportunities for ourselves.
“They are a well-structured team but we will manage to get through them and create opportunities. We managed to do that at home and if we can do that there as well, I can see us scoring. The pressure is more on them than it is on us.”
Tinkler said Matsatsantsa only had themselves to blame for allowing Maritzburg to snatch what could be a golden away goal ahead of the return leg.
“We let ourselves down in the last 15 minutes where we weren’t compact enough and that is where the danger came from,” he lamented.
Tinkler has also praised youngster Tebogo Mokoena for his sterling performance alongside Reneilwe Letsholonyane in the absence of skipper Dean Furman.
“He has done extremely well, he is very clever and he reads the game very well.” New Cape Town All Stars coach David Kannemeyer is happy that his side have got off to a perfect start but is under no illusions about the amount of work it will take to win promotion or finish in the play-off positions.
Igugu leKapa beat Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila 1-0 in their first match and supplemented it with another 1-0 win over Richards Bay FC last weekend to go joint top of the National First Division with Highlands Park.
Kannemeyer urged his charges stay grounded and remember that it is not always how you start a campaign but how you finish is always how you get judged.
“It is still work in progress. It’s early stages and this is not a sprint contest but rather a marathon. We have done well thus far but we must keep our feet on the ground because there is still a very long way to go. You always want a good start like this to get the team going,” said the 40-year-old former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns defender.
The league will be on a break until September 9 and Kannemeyer said his challenge during this time will be to keep his players focused.
“The break is disturbing but there is nothing we can do about it. We will be playing three friendly matches this week to try and keep the momentum going,” he said.
Igugu leKapa have previously had such a start. Two years ago they were the club to beat in the first round but faded out as the season progressed especially after then coach Dan Malesela left for Chippa United.
“That is in the past and I don’t like talking about the past. We have assembled a good squad who should be able to help us avoid such things.
“I am still looking to add two or three players before the transfer window closes but otherwise we should be fine,” he added.