Tinkler praises his super-sub

Eric Tinkler has heaped praise on Sifiso Myeni, after the 29-year-old came off the bench to inspire SuperSport United to a 2-0 victory over Platinum Stars in an Absa Premiership clash on Tuesday.

Jeremy Brockie got Matsatsantsa’s second goal in stoppage time, but it was Myeni’s long-range cracker five minutes from the end of normal time that swung the match in SuperSport’s favour.

Myeni’s contribution was an early endorsement of United’s decision to bring him in on loan from Bidvest Wits on transfer deadline day.

“We only really started playing when Sifiso came in, his creativity ended up helping us get the result,” said Tinkler.

“With game time he will get better. I think he was much better than when we saw him against Maritzburg.

“We are starting to see him coming through with that creativity and that ability that he has and with more game time he will add lot more value to our squad.”

Tinkler admitted that his side looked rather sloppy against Stars – the Matsatsantsa coach made several changes in preparation for a Caf Confederation Cup first-leg quarterfinal tomorrow against Zambian outfit Zesco United.

“It was not a good performance, but we got to see a few new faces and we got the three points. We also have to look at that, the changes I made and the opportunities that I gave others,” said Tinkler.

“That game (against Zesco) is coming up and that is why we rested Morgan Gould and Reneilwe Letsholonyane and I would love to have rested more because I think the fatigue was starting to show.”

Tinkler’s counterpart and friend Roger de Sa made his return to the dugout after a six month absence from the game, replacing Peter Butler in the Stars hot seat.

“I’ve only worked one day with them so I couldn’t do much. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the performances,” De Sa said after the game.