Selection puzzle for SuperSport
Welcome return of Letsholonyane brings team choice poser for Tinkler
SUPERSPORT United will be boosted by the return of key central midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane for Saturday’s second leg of their Caf Confederation Cup final against Democratic Republic of the Congo side TP Mazembe‚ leaving coach Eric Tinkler with a selection poser.
With Letsholonyane suspended and Teboho Mokoena injured‚ Tinkler gave just a second start to 19-year-old Sipho Mbule ahead of Cole Alexander in Sunday’s first leg match in Lubumbashi, DRC.
A superb long-range strike by the teenager earned SuperSport a workable 2-1 defeat.
The Pretoria side are yet to release their injury situation for the second leg‚ but know that the influential and experienced Letsholonyane is back.
“The team got back [on Monday] and are not training today‚ so we do not have an update yet on the injury situation‚” SuperSport United spokesman Brian Moshoeshoe said yesterday.
“Yeye [Letsholonyane]‚ after his suspension for the first leg‚ is available for the second leg. Morgan [Gould] is still suspended.”
Letsholonyane seems likely to reunite with central midfield partner Dean Furman on Saturday night at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville (kickoff 8.15pm)‚ where a 1-0 win will be enough for Matsatsantsa to lift their historic first continental trophy on the away goals rule.
Tinkler is well versed in the home-andaway format in continental football after his exploits as assistant coach in Orlando Pirates’ run to the 2013 Caf Champions League final‚ and head coach when Bucs reached the Confed final in 2015.
The SuperSport coach was confident the 2-1 defeat to Mazembe was a satisfactory platform for his team, with the advantage of having scored an away goal, from Sunday’s first leg played on the hot artificial surface of Stade TP Mazembe.
“I said to the players‚ ‘I’d rather leave here with a 2-1 loss than a 0-0 draw,’” Tinkler said.
“It was very important for us to score that away goal, especially against TP Mazembe.
“They are a very experienced team and if you do not score there, it becomes very difficult at home.”
TP Mazembe coach Phil Mihayo said: “If we go there and try to contain them‚ it will be difficult for us, because the opponent can put you under pressure every time.”
Meanwhile, Kaitano Tembo may have played a crucial role in getting SuperSport United to the Caf final, but he does not want to be singled out for special mention.
The former Zimbabwean international defender insists credit should go to everyone who was involved with the arduous project that has seen the club clock up thousands of air miles around the continent.
“We have a good culture here at the club and I believe that credit must go to the office and technical support staff, who work tirelessly behind the scenes and the players who do the job on the field‚” Tembo said.
“I have only made a small contribution to help the club to be where it is – and I am honoured to be part of this club.”
Tembo took charge of SuperSport in three crucial group-stage matches, when coach Stuart Baxter was negotiating for his move to Bafana Bafana, and pulled off five points from a possible nine.
“It is an overwhelming achievement for the club and it was not easy to reach the final, because of the travelling‚” Tembo said. Their African safari had improved SuperSport’s brand on the continent and helped the players to gain experience that would benefit Bafana Bafana in the future, he said.
“The players have done very well and our achievements have helped to drastically build the club’s brand on the continent.
“Before we started‚ not many people knew about the SuperSport United club, but I am sure that now people know who we are.”
Tembo said the team must be at their best to overcome the 2-1 deficit and lift the trophy.
“It is important for everyone to remember that we are playing against the defending champions, who have done very well away from home in the past,” he said. “We need to start well and put them under pressure.”