Tinkler fires salvo at decision on ‘neutral’ venue for Cup

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 is not pleased with having to play the final at the Peter Mokaba 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 supporters‚ to get to in the country.

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

“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.

“Then we have the added problem of playing [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‚ so I’m not too sure about the thinking there.”

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 Cup.

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

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

Ngoma said the players feel they have the freedom to play an attacking game given the organisation that Tinkler has brought to the defence and the midfield.

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

“He has always encouraged us to enjoy games; we work hard enough at training.

“Once we play with a bit of freedom and enjoyment‚ that is when we started to get results.

“He has helped us to not play with fear and you see when we play every team‚ regardless of who it is‚ we play with no fear.”

Ngoma believes the team will not freeze on the big stage of Saturday’s final as they are not feeling the pressure to perform.

“There’s no pressure on us‚ we on the brink of making history.

“But we shouldn’t approach the final any different to how we approach other games.

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

“If we don’t win‚ we want to get off the field knowing we have given 120% and that we gave our best and gave anything we had.”

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

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

“We are not thinking of the run we are on.

“They [SuperSport] are also on a run where they are unbeaten in 12 or 13 matches [14]‚ so it’s going to be a very difficult one for us.

“We have studied them well‚ and we have good qualities in the team to get the victory.” — TMG Digital