Q and A: Eric Tinkler
YOU’VE had great success as a player; what advice would you offer to young footballers making their way in the game? Tinkler: To achieve your dream to become a professional footballer, you have to want it more than anyone else, then work harder than anyone else.
You were also part of the successful Bafana Bafana squad who won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996. Tell us a bit about that team. T: We had a group of players who were hungry for success. Some of us were already overseas, but we wanted bigger clubs and bigger contracts, while those who were local were looking to move to a club overseas.
Why is it that football in South Africa has struggled to replicate that era? T: There are many factors, not only one. The passion and desire are not what it used to be and, in my opinion, we demand things without putting in the work to achieve those things. We have a sense of entitlement. The younger players of today have other distractions occupying their time, like malls, cinemas, Playstations, etc.
Since the days of that 1996 Bafana squad, and after that players like Steven Pienaar and Benni McCarthy, South Africa hasn’t seen too many players sign for clubs in England. Why? T: The depth and the strength of your national team will determine whether South African players will be noticed by overseas clubs. When your national team is not performing, scouts and agents do not really look at you as a potential overseas-based player.
Now at Cape Town City, you’ve done amazing work in a short space of time. Give us some insight into your coaching philosophy. T: You are only as good your players, hence it is important for me, my technical team and my players to have a good working relationship. I like my players to take responsibility for their own growth, and our growth as a team. Players must be able to express themselves without losing track of what we want to achieve. I want to play attractive, quick football and in order to achieve this, you need players who are comfortable on the ball, and feel supported by the team and technical staff.
Having hurriedly put this City squad together, they have responded wonderfully. What is the secret? T: Hard work and the steadfast belief that we are heading in the right direction.
What is your opinion of SuperSport United coach Stuart Baxter? T: Stuart is a very experienced coach who has worked at all levels of the game, even as Bafana coach. Players like him and enjoy playing under him. He, like me, focuses on his team’s transitional play and has achieved success with it, particularly at Kaizer Chiefs.
Heading into today’s final, what would you say are SuperSport’s strengths, and how are you going to nullify it? T: SuperSport, like Wits, are a physical team. They play with a strength and speed. They have a mix of players who are battlers and others who are footballers – we need to match them for aggression, speed and effort. We must defend well on set-pieces and we must be aware of their transitional play into attack.