Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler will relish the opportunity to rest his players due to upcoming breaks in the Absa Premiership for international commitments.
However, the proximity of the return of some of Pirates’ Bafana Bafana players ahead of the first leg of the Buccaneers’ Caf Confederation Cup final against Tunisian club Etoile du Sahel at Orlando Stadium on November 21, is Tinkler’s latest concern.
Following the Confed final, the second leg of which will be in Tunisia on November 29, the PSL goes into a break to aid the SA U23 team in its quest to qualify for next year’s Olympics in the Caf U23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal next month.
Before that, Bafana meet Angola in a World Cup qualifier, in Benguela on Friday, then Durban on Tuesday next week.
“For us I think the break for the U23s possibly could come at the right time. Because remember we haven’t had a break like everybody else. We’ve gone through two straight seasons now,” Tinkler said after his side’s 6-5 penalties defeat against Kaizer Chiefs in Saturday’s Telkom Knockout semifinal at FNB Stadium.
The Buccaneers had a one-week off-season due to their run in the Confed Cup.
Tinkler added: “I’ve still got the Confederation Cup, which is my biggest concern because I’ve got players only arriving for training on the Friday before the first leg, and that’s a massive concern.”
Somewhat under pressure a fortnight ago after successive home league defeats against nine-man Bidvest Wits (1-0) and Lamontville Golden Arrows (2-1), Tinkler might feel a little more secure in his job following a much improved week.
Pirates racked up their second and third league wins from nine matches, 3-1 against Chiefs at FNB last Saturday, then 2-1 away to Ajax Cape Town in midweek. They then matched Chiefs blow for blow in a second derby in a week on Saturday, which ended goalless after 120 minutes, then went to penalties.
Tinkler acknowledged Amakhosi had tightened up their game from the first derby, making it hard for Pirates to effectively utilise their dangerous counter-attack.
“They started a lot better than us. They showed a lot more aggression to want to win the ball ahead of us,” Tinkler said.
“There were far too many times they were intercepting the ball in front of us, way too many times they were winning the headers or picking up the second ball.
“And we were starved of possession in the first half. Our link-up play was almost non-existent – we were relying predominantly on playing the long ball. They showed a lot more composure in possession, and we tended to panic.
“I think we rectified that at the break, came out a lot better and started to have better link-up play going forward and creating chances.
“In extra time both teams looked very tired. We had played three big games in a week, even though we tried to rest players. And penalties are a lottery.”
Pirates to recharge batteries
However, the proximity of the return of some of Pirates’ Bafana Bafana players ahead of the first leg of the Buccaneers’ Caf Confederation Cup final against Tunisian club Etoile du Sahel at Orlando Stadium on November 21, is Tinkler’s latest concern.
Following the Confed final, the second leg of which will be in Tunisia on November 29, the PSL goes into a break to aid the SA U23 team in its quest to qualify for next year’s Olympics in the Caf U23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal next month.
Before that, Bafana meet Angola in a World Cup qualifier, in Benguela on Friday, then Durban on Tuesday next week.
“For us I think the break for the U23s possibly could come at the right time. Because remember we haven’t had a break like everybody else. We’ve gone through two straight seasons now,” Tinkler said after his side’s 6-5 penalties defeat against Kaizer Chiefs in Saturday’s Telkom Knockout semifinal at FNB Stadium.
The Buccaneers had a one-week off-season due to their run in the Confed Cup.
Tinkler added: “I’ve still got the Confederation Cup, which is my biggest concern because I’ve got players only arriving for training on the Friday before the first leg, and that’s a massive concern.”
Somewhat under pressure a fortnight ago after successive home league defeats against nine-man Bidvest Wits (1-0) and Lamontville Golden Arrows (2-1), Tinkler might feel a little more secure in his job following a much improved week.
Pirates racked up their second and third league wins from nine matches, 3-1 against Chiefs at FNB last Saturday, then 2-1 away to Ajax Cape Town in midweek. They then matched Chiefs blow for blow in a second derby in a week on Saturday, which ended goalless after 120 minutes, then went to penalties.
Tinkler acknowledged Amakhosi had tightened up their game from the first derby, making it hard for Pirates to effectively utilise their dangerous counter-attack.
“They started a lot better than us. They showed a lot more aggression to want to win the ball ahead of us,” Tinkler said.
“There were far too many times they were intercepting the ball in front of us, way too many times they were winning the headers or picking up the second ball.
“And we were starved of possession in the first half. Our link-up play was almost non-existent – we were relying predominantly on playing the long ball. They showed a lot more composure in possession, and we tended to panic.
“I think we rectified that at the break, came out a lot better and started to have better link-up play going forward and creating chances.
“In extra time both teams looked very tired. We had played three big games in a week, even though we tried to rest players. And penalties are a lottery.”
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