Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Tinkler and Komphela get defensive about derby
IT’S not often that the main focus ahead of a Soweto derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs is defence.
Perhaps that is something special about today’s Nedbank Cup last 32 fixture at FNB Stadium, which pits the archrivals against each other early on in a competition they both desperately need to win to save their season.
Pirates and Chiefs have met four times already in this campaign, which is a bit of a sigh moment when there’s too much derby dosage.
But the Buccaneers’ two consecutive wins, and the fact that Amakhosi had managed a five-game winning streak in all competitions until they were held to a 1-1 draw by Polokwane City in the PSL last week, suggests they have both hit some kind of purple patch.
Usually the forwards dominate the headlines, but Pirates coach Eric Tinkler has resisted the urge to tinker with his back four, relying on Patrick Phungwayo, Thabo Matlaba, Ayanda Gcaba and Edwin Gyimah in their last three matches.
Chiefs’ Steve Komphela had also found a consistent, central defensive combination until Lorenzo Gordinho received his fourth yellow card against Polokwane, so he sits out today because of suspension.
“It will affect the rhythm of the team, but you can’t complain as injuries and suspensions are part of the game,” replied Komphela when asked how he would deal with the absence of a man who has started 11 successive PSL matches, won two Man-of-the- Match awards and scored winning goals against Wits and Maritzburg United.
“We have a candidate ready to replace Gordinho and who will do justice to the central pairing, which is important in a team. But we must guard against exaggerating a challenge like this one.
“At some stage, we were consistent with (Siyanda) Xulu and (Erick) Mathoho. This is an opportunity for Daniel Cardoso, Morgan Gould, Ivan Bukenya and even Siboniso Gaxa, who usually plays as a right back but can play in central defence.”
On paper, the Pirates backline pales in comparison to Chiefs. Tinkler has been chopping and changing, and there are signs that the current group might give him peace of mind. But he did not want to stick with what has worked in a 3-1 win over Mpumalanga Black Aces and a 1-0 victory against Bloemfontein Celtic a week ago.
Maybe it’s because the same back four was not tight enough in a shock 1-0 defeat away to Free State Stars a fortnight ago. “If I look at our last two games, then there is no reason to tamper with the team,” said Tinkler. “But you always have to analyse and look at the team you are facing next and then decide which players fit the profile to do a job for you.”
Perhaps Tinkler is wary of giving away too much of his game plan, seeing as this afternoon’s clash of the Soweto titans has been billed as the last chance saloon for both clubs in order to make sure they finish with a trophy in the cabinet this season.