Tinkler Eyes Top Four Finish Despite Winless This Year
Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler believes his side can nestle into the top four despite slipping down the table.
Tinkler’s side was defeated by AmaZulu 1-0 in windy conditions at DHL Stadium on Sunday.
It was the club’s third loss in 2024, with the Cape Town club looking for the first league win this year.
They are joined by the mighty Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United respectively, an embarrassing sight of the top teams yet to get over the line.
On top of the windy at DHL Stadium, things got worse for City, playing most of the game with a man down after Keanu Cupido’s red card in the first half.
The match fared off at an empty stadium after fans were urged to not attend due to strong winds prevailing through the city.
Their loss against AmaZulu was their eighth, sliding down seventh on the table with 33 points after 23 matches.
“We just have to push the reset button over the next 10 days knowing that you got a difficult trip against Polokwane away (on the 21 April),” he said.
“But we have got five home games left, we (must) believe that we can collect maximum points from those, and we can get top four. But it’s about the next three points.”
Assessing their overall 2024 performance, Tinkler, attributed their downward projectile to late signings and departures during the January transfer window.
“I think I have seen a lot of changes as well that’s happened in the team,” Tinkler adds.
“I think that does affect the performances, players coming in late stage like we brought Khanya Leshabela on the last minute, we bring in Heaven Sereetsi on the last minute, Aprocius Petrus on the last minute.
“All these guys must adapt and get used to us. The players feel it, the guys who have been around when a certain player leaves, feel that loss. I think that’s the one issue.”
City’s next six league games include the on-fire Orlando Pirates, Pretoria juggernauts Mamelodi Sundowns, and the relegation-threatened Richards Bay, games they will need to dig deep to get a result to secure their objectives.
