Cape Town - Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler is determined to keep his feet planted firmly on terra firma, and he’s not about to allow himself or his squad to be lured into any delusions of grandeur after the Cape club’s promising start to the PSL season.
In a lofty fourth position on the PSL standings, City are back in action after the international break when they host Baroka FC at Cape Town Stadium tonight (8.15pm kickoff).
“This is a long league,” Tinker said. “There’s still a long way to go. Our objective is just to make sure we get better week after week. We have to continue to improve and show consistency, both as a team and as individuals.
“If I reflect on how things have gone, I’m happy with the start, but at the same time I’m disappointed, in that we left quite a few points on the field.
“If I look back at our performances against Orlando Pirates and Highlands Park away from home, those were certainly games we could have won.”
Tinkler is also well aware that in Baroka, City are dealing with a potential banana peel.
Bakgaga are last season’s NFD champions, and this is their first season in the top-flight, so they are motivated to show they belong.
Tinkler admits his side will have to be on song to avoid slipping up against the PSL newcomers.
“They’re an unpredictable team,” he said. “They had a bad result against Chippa United in their last outing, but they would have had time to work on rectifying things during the international break.
“As such, it’s important that we keep working hard and we’ll have to be at our best to get a result.
“I’ve always said that it’s these games, against the so-called smaller teams, that are important. Against the big clubs, there’s no need for motivation, they players know what is expected.
“That is why, when we play Baroka (Saturday night), I want the same effort, and the same performance and consistency, the team gives when playing Chiefs or Pirates.”
Meanwhile, City will have to do without powerful striker Judas Moseamedi, who was injured in a recent friendly.
Tinkler is erring on the side of caution as he wants Moseamedi back for next week’s Telkom Knockout match against Bloemfontein Celtic, so is affording him time to recover.
In related news, City have allowed Australian forward James Brown to return home.
Tinkler explained: “We are sorry to lose James, he’s a talented player and I thought he would have been a benefit to the squad. But he has struggled to adjust, he missed home.
“At the same time while playing here, he was also studying, as he wants to make a career in business law in the future, and I think he realised that it wasn’t possible to do both.
“He asked to go back home and we agreed to his request, we won’t stand in a player’s way.”
But, for Tinkler and City, it’s all systems go. They are fully committed to their vision of capturing the hearts of the Cape’s football followers.
Tonight is another opportunity for them to build on the good work they’ve done off the field, and to continue their impressive performance curve on it.
Weekend Argus