Tinkler’s quick juggling pays off

Cape Town City certainly owes the hard-fought point against Highlands Park to an inspired tactical decision by coach Eric Tinkler. Photo by: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Cape Town City certainly owes the hard-fought point against Highlands Park to an inspired tactical decision by coach Eric Tinkler. Photo by: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Published Sep 28, 2016

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Cape Town City and Highlands Park played to a 1-1 draw at the Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa Tuesday night, and the Cape club certainly owes the hard-fought point to an inspired tactical decision by coach Eric Tinkler.

Coaches are oft-maligned, which is why it’s always important to acknowledge when their judgement calls positively affect the outcome of a match. With City struggling in the first half, it was Tinkler’s quick juggling of the team that brought about the necessary improvement in the second period.

The game also featured Zambian striker Collins Mbesuma’s 100th goal in the PSL. The 32-year-old, who has played for Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Moroka Swallows, Golden Arrows, Orlando Pirates and Mpumalanga Black Aces, and has twice won the PSL’s Golden Boot award, scored a magnificent equaliser to earn his team a point.

Tueday night’s fixture against Highlands was City’s sixth game in 18 days and Tinkler felt it time to rest a few players. Aubrey Ngoma, who was brilliant against Ajax Cape Town last week, was also injured. Into the starting XI came Roland Putsche, Matt Sim and Lehohonolo Majoro.

Conditions, though, weren’t great and not conducive to a passing game. Not only was the grass quite long, creating a bobbling surface, there was also a downpour during the first half, which worsened the state of the pitch.

It was a cagey start with City more compact and cautious, in contrast to the offensive approach they had employed in recent games.

Highlands quickly gained the ascendancy, with Brandon Theron a threatening presence on the right flank.

The 23-year-old Theron spent the last few seasons at NFD club Milano United, and this stint at the Tembisa club is his first in the PSL.

Tuesday night, he was an energetic runner out wide and his teasing crosses always had the City defence in trouble.

Highlands, the PSL rookies, clearly wanted to ensure that the opposition had little time on the ball - they pressed and harried when the visitors had possession. It was quite effective, as they had the better of the opening 45 minutes, without any luck in front of goal, with Junior Sibande’s effort saved by City keeper Shua-Aib Walters and Charlton Mashumba heading wide from right in front.

Highlands were bossing things so much in midfield that Tinkler had no choice but to change things tactically. In the 38th minute, he jerked Putsche, brought on central defender Renars Rode and moved Thato Mokeke to left-back, in a clear ploy to lessen Theron’s influence on the game.

With Ebrahim Seedat, who had started at left-back, pushing up into left midfield, and Mokeke behind him, the City flank was strengthened.

The tactical change proved effective as City looked far better in the second half, and it was the Cape side’s talisman, Lebogang Manyama, who again made things happen.

The City skipper produced another top-drawer finish when he whipped a delightful shot into the top corner in 70th minute. But City’s lead didn’t last as Highlands soon drew level, thanks to a fantastic volleyed finish from the prolific Mbesuma.

Cape Times

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