Chippa United head coach Eric Tinkler is excited to be back in Mdantsane where they will host Mamelodi Sundowns in an Absa Premiership encounter at Sisa Dukashe Stadium on Saturday evening.
Tinkler who collected his first three points when he took over the Chilli Boys from his predecessor Dan “Dance” Malesela in August when his charges beat Baroka 1-0 at the NU 2 venue last month, said he was ecstatic because Sisa Dukashe had proved to be their happy hunting ground.
“Obviously I’m happy to be back, because this has proved to be a good hunting ground for us and now we have to try and get three points again.
“I know that Sundowns don’t really like coming to Sisa, and that’s a good thing for us and being Sundowns, there will be a massive crowd coming out to the game,” Tinkler told the Weekend Dispatch.
Tinkler conceded the fact that the former African champions would not be pushovers.
“It’s not going to be easy but if we apply ourselves correctly and go out there with the right mindset and belief in each other we can achieve a positive result against Sundowns.
“I haven’t prepared for this game differently to what I’ve done with previous games and obviously this being a home match, it was important for us to arrive earlier.
“In order for it to remain a home match we had to train here and get used to the conditions and the facilities. Hence we came here on Thursday and trained,” Tinkler said.
He said the mood at training sessions was exceptional and it was for that reason that he was hopeful his charges would be able to get maximum points.
Currently the Chilli Boys are sitting in 11th position with eight points and the Brazilians are in seventh spot on 11 points.
“The atmosphere was very good at training and I was happy with what I saw and hopefully that will continue,” the coach said. “We’ve been working on our finishing. I think we are getting into the right areas and creating chances.
“And now it’s making sure that you take those chances and when you play against quality teams like Sundowns, chances are few and far between.
“So when you do get those chances you have to make sure that you capitalise.
“That’s what I’ve done this week, finishing and working on what we want to do in the final third. How do we get there and also how to provide.
“That’s better than to sit and complain about strikers who are not scoring.”
Tinkler said the modern game taught him that scoring goals was not a strikers job alone but it was “it’s everybody’s job.”
“Everybody needs to provide and everybody needs to defend and it’s making players understand that and hopefully we’ll start seeing some goals, which is what we need right now.”
The former SuperSport United mentor said having a full house at Sisa would motivate his players to perform extremely well.
“They will be playing in front of a good crowd and up against a good team like Sundowns.”
The Chilli Boys have only lost one game at Sisa Dukashe Stadium and that was last year against Ajax Cape Town when they were beaten 1-0 by the relegated Cape Town outfit, who are now campaigning in the National First Division.
The last time they met the Chloorkop-based-outfit visited by the Chilli Boys at the NU 2 venue, the sides played to a 1-1 draw. So Tinkler will want to go one better against the visitors. It should be a great game and one not to be missed by local and visiting football fans.
The game kicks off at 8.15pm but the gates will open earlier...