With the busy busy off-season schedule that Orlando Pirates have had to go through this month, Pirates coach Eric Tinkler said that he has not had much time to think about tomorrow’s Carling Black Label Cup.
“To be entirely honest with you, up until now I haven’t really thought about (Kaizer) Chiefs, because I’ve been so focused on the Caf Confed,” Tinkler said yesterday.
Tinkler’s side has endured a packed but productive off-season schedule with their involvement in the CAF Confederations Cup. There most recent match was a hard-fought 1-0 win away at CS Sfaxien.
While the consistent games against tough opposition may be seen as an edge against relatively less match-ready Kaizer Chiefs, Tinkler said that player fatigue from the matches and the travelling was a huge concern.
“You’re kind of skating on thin ice at this stage, knowing that a lot of these players haven’t had an off-season,” he said. “It’s vitally important that we get to know the players’ bodies a lot better and get an understanding of how far we can push them.”
For that reason training at the Buccaneers has been light this week:
“I’ve been resting the guys as much as possible so that we ensure we can put on a good spectacle,” said Tinkler.
“Because that’s what people come to expect at the FNB. They want to see a good spectacle. A game that is full of goal-scoring opportunities.”
The previous four Carling Cups have not been high-scoring affairs. Three had to go to penalties, with two remaining goalless by the end of extra-time.
Tinkler said that this was because of the hype and the pressure that players are exposed to. - The Star