Embattled Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler admits he could lose his job sooner or later, but says he cannot live in fear of getting sacked by the club.
Tinkler seemed to have a “don’t care any more” attitude after Pirates’ 2-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday, their fifth of the season.
Pirates are in 13th place, just five points ahead of bottom of the table club Maritzburg United.
Tinkler says he and the Pirates management have not discussed his future since the Caf Confederation Cup defeat to Etoile du Sahel last month.
“I had no meeting with anybody at the club. We had our normal technical meetings to prepare for our training sessions and our matches. Life has gone on as normal,” Tinkler said on Sunday.
“I will report for training and I will prepare the players the same way I have been preparing them, until I get told otherwise. You cannot live in fear of getting sacked because sooner or later it’s going to happen. You just have to believe that what you are doing is the right thing.
“We have got to work extremely hard and rebuild the confidence so that they start producing the football that we know they can produce.”
Tinkler feels the players have not quite recovered from the disappointment of losing the Confederation Cup final.
“It was a massive disappointment for all of us. I don’t think you can ever get that out of the system. It’s always going to be in the back of their minds.
“It came at the wrong time due to the fact that it also affected our league form. We took the players out on a team-building exercise just to try and get the unity back again. We have been working extremely hard over the last two weeks.”
On Sunday, Pirates had the first clearcut chance of the game, but striker Thamsanqa Gabuza squandered a one-on-one opportunity, which was saved by Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango. Sundowns went on the counter-attack and, less than a minute after Gabuza dilly-dallied in the box, the home side shot ahead through Leonardo Castro.
Khama Billiat scored the second for Sundowns and Tinkler admits his side were poor in defence.
“We let ourselves down. We were poor in defence. We started fairly well and we had the first chance, but that led them to scoring the first goal,” the former Bafana Bafana midfielder said.
“Our decision-making in the final third was poor. We looked cagey and certain players were scared to have the ball. They start hiding. We don’t move the ball quickly enough.”
Tinkler is certainly living on borrowed time and may not make it to Pirates next match against Platinum Stars on January 9.
Tinkler expects bullet any time
Tinkler seemed to have a “don’t care any more” attitude after Pirates’ 2-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday, their fifth of the season.
Pirates are in 13th place, just five points ahead of bottom of the table club Maritzburg United.
Tinkler says he and the Pirates management have not discussed his future since the Caf Confederation Cup defeat to Etoile du Sahel last month.
“I had no meeting with anybody at the club. We had our normal technical meetings to prepare for our training sessions and our matches. Life has gone on as normal,” Tinkler said on Sunday.
“I will report for training and I will prepare the players the same way I have been preparing them, until I get told otherwise. You cannot live in fear of getting sacked because sooner or later it’s going to happen. You just have to believe that what you are doing is the right thing.
“We have got to work extremely hard and rebuild the confidence so that they start producing the football that we know they can produce.”
Tinkler feels the players have not quite recovered from the disappointment of losing the Confederation Cup final.
“It was a massive disappointment for all of us. I don’t think you can ever get that out of the system. It’s always going to be in the back of their minds.
“It came at the wrong time due to the fact that it also affected our league form. We took the players out on a team-building exercise just to try and get the unity back again. We have been working extremely hard over the last two weeks.”
On Sunday, Pirates had the first clearcut chance of the game, but striker Thamsanqa Gabuza squandered a one-on-one opportunity, which was saved by Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango. Sundowns went on the counter-attack and, less than a minute after Gabuza dilly-dallied in the box, the home side shot ahead through Leonardo Castro.
Khama Billiat scored the second for Sundowns and Tinkler admits his side were poor in defence.
“We let ourselves down. We were poor in defence. We started fairly well and we had the first chance, but that led them to scoring the first goal,” the former Bafana Bafana midfielder said.
“Our decision-making in the final third was poor. We looked cagey and certain players were scared to have the ball. They start hiding. We don’t move the ball quickly enough.”
Tinkler is certainly living on borrowed time and may not make it to Pirates next match against Platinum Stars on January 9.
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