BACK TO NORMAL

Coach to ring the changes as SuperSport United focus on winning PSL title after losing the Confederation Cup final on aggregate to TP Mazembe.

E xpect sweeping changes in the SuperSport United squad for tomorrow’s Premier Soccer League clash with Ajax Cape Town, says coach Eric Tinkler in the wake of their African Confederation Cup defeat at the weekend. It is not, however, a disappointed reaction to failure to wrestle the continental title away from TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, but rather an opportunity to rest players exhausted by the cup adventure and give opportunities to those in the squad who had not been available for African duty. “For the game we plan to make quite a few changes because we have brought in quite a few new faces to the squad and I think, quite frankly, we do need to refresh the squad a little bit and now we can really start focusing on the league campaign. “That now becomes the main objective,” said Tinkler as he digested missing out on continental glory at the weekend. SuperSport were held to a goalless draw at home in the second leg of the final by holders TP Mazembe, thus losing 2-1 on aggregate. Players who were not involved in the competition, like Sifiso Myeni, Ghanaian Richard Boateng, Zimbabwe striker Prince Dube and giant Nigerian centre back Azubuike Egwuekwe, who is yet to make his debut despite being signed three months ago, will likely feature. Morgan Gould could come back into the team after suspension ruled him out of both legs of the final while Reyaad Pieterse could get a chance in goal and Teboho Mokoena could be back on the bench after injury. “Obviously I’m looking for a positive response and I’ll find that out on Wednesday, when we play against Ajax Cape Town. Then you will know how this has effected the team, both emotionally and psychologically,” said Tinkler. “But we’ve got to put it behind us and focus on our next objective, which is the league.” Tomorrow’s match in Atteridgeville is only the sixth league game of the season for SuperSport, who now face having to play catch-up. They have 10 points already and a home win over struggling Ajax would elevate them three places. The club have five games in December and five in January as they face a hectic schedule to make up matches postponed because of their run to the Confederation Cup final.