Tinkler faces fan in opposition dugout

CAPE Town City coach Eric Tinkler has numerous admirers and one of his biggest fans will be in the opposing dugout when his charges line up against SuperSport United tomorrow.

The teams will compete in the Telkom Knockout final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

United coach Stuart Baxter revealed in the build-up to the showdown that he is a Tinkler fan‚ but given what will be at stake in Polokwane‚ the City coach will do well to remain focused and not allow the praise to go to his head.

City were launched just more than 150 days ago and Baxter said he was not surprised that Tinkler led the club to the Telkom Knockout final‚ and that the newcomers were also top of the premiership standings.

“I think Eric is one of the young coaches in this country [who] has a bright future‚” Baxter said.

“He has done a lot and I thought he really did a good job when he was at [Orlando] Pirates. I think whenever you talk to him about the game he knows what he is talking about.

“He has come to an open book now with Cape Town City. It is like a new start for him and for them.”

City are in the midst of glorious purple patch and Tinkler has managed to mould them into a formidable unit.

Tomorrow’s final will give Tinkler an opportunity to get his own back on Baxter as he was the coach of the losing side when a Baxter-led United beat Pirates 3-2 in the final of the Nedbank Cup in May, also at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

He will hope his move from Pirates to City during the PSL off-season will bring a change in fortune as the Bucs stumbled in the last hurdle and lost in the finals of the Confederation Cup and the Nedbank Cup with him at the helm.

Tinkler will go to Polokwane with reservations. He is not happy that the knockout final will be played at the same venue that hosted the Nedbank Bank final.

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

“I’m not entirely happy with the venue because I think it is difficult for us and our fans‚ the trip we have to make to get there.”