City coach queries knockout final venue

CAPE Town City coach Eric Tinkler has questioned the decision to play Saturday’s Telkom Knockout final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

City face SuperSport United in the tournament decider and Tinkler questioned the neutrality of the venue.

The City coach revealed he was not pleased with having to play the final at the Polokwane stadium‚ where SuperSport won the Nedbank Cup against Orlando Pirates in May.

It is also arguably the most challenging venue for the Cape Town team‚ and their fans, to get to in the country.

“I don’t know how neutral it is‚ to be honest‚” Tinkler said.

“Then we have the added problem that we play [a league game] on Tuesday evening [at home in Cape Town] against Platinum Stars.

“We can only leave [Polokwane] on Sunday and then we have to play SuperSport again on Friday [in Cape Town in the league].

“SuperSport don’t have another game the whole week,” Tinkler said.

Meanwhile, Aubrey Ngoma has thanked Tinkler for giving the club’s attacking players freedom to express the best of their talents as they look ahead to the Telkom Knockout final game.

City have been among the most potent attacking sides in the country this season and top the league table‚ giving them confidence ahead of their first cup final yet.

After scoring just six goals in their first nine games this season‚ the City attack has burst to life with a further 22 in their next nine as Ngoma‚ Lebogang Manyama‚ Lehlohonolo Majoro and Sibusiso Masina shine.

Ngoma said the players felt they have the freedom to play an attacking game.

“The coach has helped us in making sure we play with freedom and no fear.”

Ngoma believes the team will not freeze on Saturday.

“It is 90 or 120 minutes more in which we have to give our all.”

City are unbeaten in their last nine games‚ winning eight of those.

But Ngoma said that would not count for anything come Saturday‚ which was a new game on a new day.

I don’t know how neutral it is‚ to be honest