Manyama disappointed, not surprised by Tinkler move

CAPE Town City captain Lebogang Manyama says he was not shocked by coach Eric Tinkler’s decision to look for pastures anew, despite learning of his resignation on social media the day prior to him being unveiled as the new SuperSport United coach.

Tinkler, who has been lauded for a remarkable 2016/17 season with the Mother City side for finishing third in the league and winning the Telkom Knockout cup, replaces Stuart Baxter, the recently appointed Bafana Bafana coach, from July 1.

“We meet to part in football at the end of the day.

“Nothing lasts forever,” was Manyama’s reaction to confirmation that Tinkler had indeed quit.

The striker has travelled to Uyo for South Africa’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations opening qualifier against Nigeria tomorrow at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

“He saw an opportunity for him and his family first and foremost. “We have to respect that. “We can’t judge what he did because he knows his reasons. And he probably feels with more resources and a slightly better squad at SuperSport he can achieve more success. All we can do is wish him the best and be thankful for all the time we spent with him at Cape Town City.

“You can see with our fans’ reaction that it is disappointing to see him go, but that is football. We have to move and find ways to continue where we left off. There is no doubt that he will always be remembered because of the season we had and him being coach.”

Manyama is an ex-SuperSport player himself and knows exactly what will be expected of Tinkler at a club that perhaps punched below their weight under Baxter in the season that has just ended by finishing in fifth place and reaching the Nedbank Cup final, which is scheduled for June 24.

“I haven’t spoken to him since the last day of the season, so I read in the papers that he was going,” said the Premier League Golden Boot winner. “But when a team like SuperSport comes calling, you have to think of your family. He also has to secure his future. I don’t know the real reasons, but I think that is part of it. You never know whether you can pull it off until you are there. Look at Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid. He didn’t have the experience but has achieved great success. I am not saying coach Tinkler doesn’t have the experience because he has coached at (Orlando) Pirates and played at the highest level, but you can’t judge anybody when they haven’t even done anything. Let’s wait and see what he does and then we can talk from there, but I don’t doubt his ability.”

@superjourno

ERIC TINKLER’S decision to part ways with Cape Town City was not influenced by money as his former boss, John Comitis, was willing to match the offer SuperSport United made to him.

But rather, it was triggered by the ambition he has of taping into a new level in his coaching career.

This comes after the new SuperSport United head coach observed how the likes of fellow coaches Pitso Mosimane and Gavin Hunt went on to achieve great things in their respective careers after serving under his new employers.

Mosimane went on to win last year’s CAF Champions League title, after having served as a Bafana Bafana coach, while Hunt, the reigning PSL champion, won the league title three times in a row with Matsatsantsa before he parted ways with them to go and join his current side, Bidvest Wits.

Tinkler, who penned a three-year deal with the Tshwane side leading up to the new season, said he hoped to achieve a similar type of success in his career as well.

“The decision to join SuperSport United came about a few days ago,” Tinkler, said yesterday. “It was a difficult one because I just had a fantastic season with Cape Town City this past campaign. And secondly, I had already moved my family down there to the Mother City as well. But when SuperSport came to me with their offer, I listened and thought it was definitely a no-brainer.

“And that’s because they are a very successful football club which is very ambitious. They have a fantastic youth development system as well.

“There are coaches who came here like Gavin and Pitso who’ve done extremely well for the club before they moved up to bigger and better things in their careers,” Tinkler added. “Hopefully that will happen for me as well as I continue progressing in my coaching career. I believe that there’s no better place to try and do exactly that than here at SuperSport.”

Tinkler, who’s been to both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup finals during his stint at Orlando Pirates, said he hoped to lead his new side to continental glory once he takes over.

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