Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Tinkler knows a little bit about navigating the continent
TAKE it from a man who went all the way in the CAF Confederation Cup last year but fell at the last hurdle: continental competitions are not for the faint-hearted.
Eric Tinkler could not see to it that Orlando Pirates clinched the cup in November when they lost 2-1 on aggregate to Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel.
However, there is perhaps no one more qualified at this point than the Pirates coach to give tips to the South African clubs beginning their CAF preliminary campaigns this weekend. Mamelodi Sundowns, the more determined of the quartet, are away to Zimbabwe’s Chicken Inn in the Champions League today.
Wits will endure a boat ride for parts of their trip to the Seychelles to face Light Stars in the Confederation Cup, while Ajax Cape Town – following doubts they would participate – travel to Angola to meet Sagrada Esperanca.
Kaizer Chiefs are also on the road to the Comoro Islands for their Champions League clash against Volcan Club de Moroni tomorrow.
Tinkler advised his counterparts on the following: Handling continental and domestic games “IT’S part and parcel of the modern game and you have to manage if you want to be successful both in Africa and here at home.
“You need to be able to adapt to those circumstances and that is what I’ve always explained to the players. You can’t just focus on one and ignore the other.
“What is important is to be able to put on consistent performances both in the continent and doing the same at home.” Travelling and the hangover that comes with it “IT is about ensuring that players get as much rest as possible, but it’s not easy.
“You have to be able to handle this because we are professional sportsmen and because of that, you are going to win some and lose some. You are going to get to finals of big competitions and you are not always going to come out of it victorious.
“It’s about trying to bounce back all the time. You’ve got to accept it and move on.” Only one highlight “WELL, you have to get to the final. I think beating a strong team like Al- Ahly ( in the semi-finals of the Confederation Cup) was obviously a highlight. And the disappointment was losing the final. Even though we didn’t come back with the trophy, which is what we wanted, there aren’t a lot of coaches and players that never get the opportunity that – we got and play in the Confederation Cup or Champions League final.
“You need to cherish that.”