Tinkler: City owe Stellies
“DIE Kaap is weer Hollands!”
The age-old Afrikaans saying, which loosely translated means “Everything is right again in the Cape,” perfectly illustrates the positive mood around football in the Mother City at the moment.
After the barren years of Cape Town City flying solo in the Premiership, and on occasion being engulfed by the big clubs from Gauteng, the excitement of a Cape derby is back with Stellenbosch FC proving worthy rivals.
Both Western Cape clubs have enjoyed a 2021-22 league season to remember heading into their final game at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday.
City are second on the standings behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns, while Stellies, who just survived relegation last season, are just three places adrift in fifth place.
It has been a remarkable achievement for both Western Cape clubs, with City enjoying a fairytale second half of the season that has seen them concede just four goals.
They will both have dreams of inaugural continental campaigns in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively next season, but there is first some business to attend to in the backyard.
Stellenbosch, under the astute guidance of Steve Barker, overwhelmed their more fancied “big brothers” from Cape Town in the first derby of the season when the visitors from the Winelands ran out 3-0 victors at Athlone Stadium.
It is a defeat that still rankles with City coach Eric Tinkler, who was named PSL Coach of the Month yesterday for his team’s exploits during April.
“We were nowhere near our best that night. We were still struggling defensively in terms of our structure, in terms of playing collectively in front and at the back in terms of the way I wanted the team to play,” Tinkler said.
“We weren’t very good on the night, and they hurt us on the counter in terms of their pace. I think we have learnt, we’ve got a lot better at that. We know how to play against teams with speed. I think we showed that against Sundowns, in terms of (Peter) Shalulile and the runs he makes. We kept him quiet.
“(Ashley) du Preez is always a threat. He is always a danger, and that’s how they hurt Sundowns on the counter. But we’ve improved in that respect, and yes, we do owe them!”
City and Tinkler will certainly not be caught with their pants down again, especially after the speedy Du Preez produced a timely reminder of his ability when he scored a brace in Stellies’ 3-0 victory over Sundowns at Tuks Stadium over the weekend.
And even though the Citizens will be without inspirational central defender Taariq Fielies who is suspended, Tinkler has the equally impressive Nathan Fasika to call upon to partner Keanu Cupido in the heart of the defence.
Everything is certainly shaping up for the latest instalment of the Cape derby to be a cracker once again. Tinkler is just hoping that with the Covid-19 restrictions now lifted that football patrons of the Western Cape return to the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday to show their appreciation for what the players from both teams have achieved this season.
“It’s a little bit disappointing seeing the number of fans at the stadiums (since the return of spectators have been allowed).
“I know that South African fans are very fickle in terms of supporting our teams only when they are winning. But we are winning. And I would love to see the fans coming back to the stadium on Saturday,” he said.