The measure of star quality isn't so much talent and ability, rather it’s humility.
Despite being in the form of his life this season, Cape Town City captain Lebogang Manyama remains as self-effacing as ever. In his view of life and football, it’s never about him but always about the team.
City take on SuperSport United in the Telkom Knockout final at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday (6pm kickoff) and, as far as Manyana is concerned, it’ll be business as usual for the Cape side. It’s all about the team effort and the work ethic, nothing else.
Manyama has been the best player on show in the PSL this season. His awareness of space, excellent off-the-ball running, superb creative play and array of goals have been the bedrock upon which City have built their impressive start to the season.
Top of the PSL standings, they also take their place in Saturday’s final, where Manyama will have an opportunity to parade his undoubted class and pedigree.
While the plaudits have rolled in, Manyama refuses to be weighed down by praise. In fact, in typical humility, the 26-year-old emphasised that his small role has only been part of a greater whole at City.
“What we’ve done so far is all part of a collective effort,” he said. “Everyone in the squad has come to the party. We all work well together and, when we fall, we make sure we get up again.
“For me, if the team does well, I do well. My own form is not that important, as long as I contribute to the team. If the team plays well, then obviously within that there will be opportunities for individuals to shine.
"But even so, we all know that it’s part of the team structure, and that the team remains the most important thing.”
Going into Saturday’s final, Manyama isn't all that surprised that City have performed so excellently in their debut season.
“If you see how hard this team works, then you will understand why I say that I’m not surprised,” he said. “There are no stars in this squad, we all complement each other, and we all work for each other.
“Obviously, the team has done well so far, but Saturday’s final is an opportunity to create history - that is the attitude with which we will be going into the match.
"We know it won’t be easy, we know we are up against a good team in SuperSport. We will respect them, they have a good coach, great players, and a history of winning cups. But they have to respect us as well, we didn’t get where we are, in a cup final, by mistake.
“The one thing we have to guard against is free-kicks, SuperSport are good at that," Manyama added. "But we just have to make sure that we approach it the same as we have all season.
"We have conceded goals, but I’ve never really seen a team go through us easily. We have to make sure that retain that defensive structure.”
And if the defence does its job, rest assured, Manyama will be there at the other end, ready to cause the opposition some major headaches.
WHAT MAKES TINKLER TICK
City are the most talked-about team in the PSL. They’ve gone from new club to club sensation in the space of just six months. Everybody in football is now trying to get their hands on coach Eric Tinkler’s
magic wand.
The bad news for those on such a quest is that there is no magic wand. The good news is that Tinkler’s secret to success is very simple: it’s called plain, old-fashioned good coaching and proper planning.
We thought we’d reveal just a few of the aspects that Tinkler has got spot on...
HAPPY TEAM, GOOD RESULTS
Speak to any of the players at City and you will regularly hear words and phrases such as “collective”, “team effort”, “together”, “for each other”
It’s symptomatic of the attitude that Tinkler has inculcated in his squad. They’re a happy bunch of players and because of this - how hard they work for each other, how they strive towards a common goal - they have reaped the positive rewards for their efforts.
Such a culture of unity doesn't simply materialise out of nothing, it needs a coach to foster such an environment within the squad and among the players. At City, Tinkler has done so magnificently.
IN A WORD: BELIEF
Established as a club in June, and then rapidly putting together a squad, it was always going to be tough going for Tinkler at City. But his man-management skill - one of his big strengths as a coach - has been vital to the Cape club’s wonderful start in the PSL.
When players believe in themselves, and when they know that the coach believes in them as individuals, then they are able to perform at their best, In short, belief breeds confidence.
Tinkler has been able to tap into every player at City and get him to perform to potential. When he has had to rotate, there was never any hesitation about the player’s ability. Whoever he’s played, has contributed - including squad members like second-choice goalkeeper Samora Motloung, Sibusiso Masina, Thabo Nodada, Given Mashikinya and others.
Tinkler never has to worry - he’s been able to elicit the same commitment and work ethic from every member of the squad. That, too, doesn’t come naturally in a team; it’s created by the coach.
PREPARATION AND
PLANNING
Sport has long moved on from the play-and-hope approach. Now, success is the result of how well a team plans and prepares, with regard to their players and resources, the opposition, the conditions and various other factors that could influence a match.
It’s called attention to detail and Tinkler has been mightily impressive in this aspect. City boss John Comitis has many years of experience in football and he regularly sings Tinkler’s praises. Comitis has worked with many coaches over the years, but freely admits that he has never worked with a coach with such an incisive and keen eye for detail as Tinkler.
SOLID DEFENCE,
SPLENDID ATTACK
Manyama and Aubrey Ngoma have hogged the spotlight for their goals and flowing attacking play, but their freedom of expression has been founded on City’s resolute defensive organisation. In essence, the Cape side has been able to attack so freely because they have defended so brilliantly.
The more the opposition is stifled and frustrated, the more opportunities are created for Manyama and Ngoma to run riot up front. This is the Tinkler philosophy, forged from his days as a combative defensive midfielder for Bafana Bafana, Vitória Setúbal, Cagliari and Barnsley.
THE THREE Cs
Every coach has a mantra which he drums into his players. For Tinkler, it’s consistency, courage and
character.
He urges his men to be at their best for every game, to do justice to their potential every time they pull on the blue-and-gold City jersey. He preaches courage, the desire to fight for the result and never give up.
Above all, for Tinkler, it’s about character, about how a team responds during times of crisis. When the chips are down, he wants his team to dig deep. And so far, the players have bought into it - because even when things have been tough (like in last week’s 3-2 win over Wits), they hung in there, they never gave up, they showed character and they rattled back to grab a last-gasp victory.
PRIDE COMES BEFORE A FALL
Because of City’s great start to the season, Tinkler has had to constantly beware of complacency. There’s always the danger that over-confidence can hit the players and that such foolish pride can result in defeat.
In October, City lost 2-1 to rookies Baroka FC in a league fixture at Cape Town Stadium, and Tinkler cut a disappointed figure afterwards. He was livid, and he highlighted over-confidence as the main cause for the unexpected defeat. Tinkler has since been vocal about this aspect to the players and it has regularly been on the menu at team talks and training.
With City on a nine-game unbeaten run, Tinkler’s demand before every game has been that his players rage against the onset of complacency. It has most certainly paid dividends.