Eric Tinkler
We’re well under 4 months into the league, many goals scored, 1 trophy won and 3 coaches gone. First it was Clinton Larsen at Blomfontein Celtics, then it was the legendary Clive Barker (who could forget the airplane celebrations when South Africa were flying high in the 1996 AFCON) at Maritzburg United, then our former national team assistant Serame Letsoaka resigned just 6 months after taking over from former Bafana Bafana, Charlton Athletic and Kaizer Chiefs striker Shaun Bartlett at KZN outfit Golden Arrows, he would later resurface at Bloemfontein Celtics, an exchange of some sorts with Clinton Larsen.
The question on everyone’s mind, though mostly Orlando Pirates fans as most Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns fans would love to see the man stay for obvious reasons bar a great CCC run, is, “will Eric Tinkler finally be booted?”. Well, there will always be factions among fans, some beaming at the thought, some blaming the players’ lack of commitment in domestic competitions and some fans being just indifferent (these are the fans that always ask for the final score from their mates). There’s good coaches still wandering around looking for their next job, Stuart Baxter has been keeping us guessing about his next appointment for a while, Ruud Krool has been freed of his duties In Egypt and some other coaches have been doing their fair share of chilling. Now, should Tinkler leave? Let’s dissect this issue real quick.
Wait! Before you start drawing conclusions on Tinkler’s fate, like any reputable lad with a good opinion would, let me bring in the stats.
Stats
Now let’s look at his perfomance in domestic competitions.
MTN8
Well, here is a competition the mighty Bucs were deserted by lady luck from the onset. The build-up to their first game of the competition was bittersweet, a good pre-season cup triumph against eternal rivals Kaizer Chiefs and some high profile injuries, Thabo Matlaba, Kermit Erasmus and young protégé Menzi Masuku were set to miss the encounter against Ajax Cape Town due to injuries, as were Thamsanqa Gabuza and veteran defender Rooi Mahamutsa. Eric Tinkler was an absentee on the bench, assistant Teboho Moloi had to fill in for the former Bafana Bafana captain. As usual, Pirates started the game in superb fashion, bossing proceedings all over the park with immaculate passing and transition play as is expected from the mighty “Buc-selona”, Ajax were also not sitting back, with a few good opportunities of their own, Ndiviwe Mdabuka sent a low drive from the edge of the box to make sure the Capetonians were rewarded for their efforts. And Pirates? 5 decent shots at goal, 2 on target. This was not their best game as far as shots are concerned, but for a team that kept so much position, a goal or two wouldn’t have been unjust.
TKO
The Buccaneers had two good games against Tuks and Maritzburg United, had 4 goals to show for it, conceding 1 along the way to reach the semi-finals. Now here is the problem with their next game, it was a derby after winning a league derby encounter by 3 goals to 1 just the previous Saturday, expecting them to do a double over Kaizer Chiefs would have been asking for too much, not that it was impossible, yet they went out there and held their own like the big team they are. Not their best/usual game in terms of keeping position as Kaizer Chiefs opted to press higher up the field, Eric Tinkler employed a different tactic, catching Amakhosi on the break! Did it work? Well if 18 shots, 13 on target, 72.2% accuracy in front of goal over 120 minutes was not good enough work, then I don’t know what else they could have done. The game went on penalties, as we all know, that’s a gamble, and this time it was Chiefs who played their aces right (this has nothing to do with Ekstein, though he was terrific on the day). Eric Tinkler’s tactical approach to the game was the closest thing to genius, his charges just were not prolific enough on the day to see through the game plan.
PSL
Now here things get a bit disappointing and the efficiency matter towers above the good displays Orlando Pirates has dished week in week out. Overall Ezimnyama, have averaged 7.8 shots at goal per game with 57.1% of those shots reaching the target and just 25% of their total shots turning into goals in the 9 games played so far. Kermit Erasmus had this to say 5 games into the league campaign
“It’s always frustrating when you don’t get the ball you want as a striker, but we are working together as a team to improve on that…” - Kermit Erasmus
Orlando Pirates have not been the luckiest team in avoiding injuries either, as much as 10 players have had doctor’s appointments, and we have not even concluded the first half of the season yet! Pirates lost captain Oupa Manyisa and winger S’fiso Myeni to some long term injuries, revelation Mpho Makola was also out for some games, surely these injuries had an effect in creativity. The 0-2 loss to Golden Arrows proved this, a luckluster performance as per Bucs’ standards, coupled with the usual wastage of chances, they had 9 shots at goal, 5 on target and none at the back of the net. Their 8th and 9th games of the season were a validation of their quality, over 31% of their total season shots came in these 2 games, and they were more efficient than average, scoring 5 goals at 41.7% efficiency. Bucs have had 70 shots at goal and only 10 goals to show for it, is Eric Tinkler the problem? No, it’s the balls that are not going in.
Now that Orlando Pirates have concluded their good run in the CCC, is Eric Tnkler justified to be the man entrusted with steering the mighty Bucs into the promise land? With a change of fortunes in front of goal, it’s an emphatic YES! Orlando Pirates is the most entertaining team to watch in South Africa, they just don’t seem too fond of letting the net into their good plays. Unless there is a miracle coach that can keep Pirates as they are and increase efficiency overnight, I think Eric deserves more time, but it’s up to the Bucs faithful to decide, in conclusion… Up the Bucs!