Praise and criticism have swayed back-and-forth like a pendulum swing on steroids when it comes to the competency of Steve Komphela and Eric Tinkler to do their jobs as coaches of the Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, respectively.
Tinkler is enjoying a reprieve after his Buccaneers stunned Amakhosi 3-1 at FNB Stadium on Saturday in the Soweto Derby. Goals from Issa Sarr, Ayanda Gcaba and Thamsanqa Gabuza, cancelling out Eric Mathoho’s header, helped Pirates register only their second win in the Absa Premiership. It’s a poor run that has resulted in pressure being heaped on Tinkler, with some fans chanting that he must be sacked after the 2-0 loss to Golden Arrows last week.
But not so long ago the mentor was a tactical genius for guiding the Sea Robbers to the final of the CAF Confederation Cup in style, wiping the floor with African giants Al-Ahly to reach the finale.
“I don’t allow it (criticism) to affect me, if I have to be entirely honest,” Tinkler said. “In today’s age there is a lot of ease of people being able to criticise. It has become part of our culture and our nature, to look for the negatives and the faults. I have accepted that all my life. There is always going to be criticism. But what is important is believing in yourself and what you do against that criticism. That’s always been my belief. I ignore it. I just move on, knowing that I am doing what I am capable of doing.”
Tinkler could return to square one if things don’t go well when he comes up against his friend Roger de Sa and his Ajax Cape Town side in the Mother City on Wednesday.
Komphela has to once again prove he is the right man for the job. His main task will be to ensure that Amakhosi can rise to big occasions, with their defeats under Komphela coming when it mattered most. The first was in the MTN8 final against the Urban Warriors while the most crushing loss came at the hands of their arch-rivals on Saturday. For Pirates it’s the opposite as they seem to save their best performances for the big stage.
“It comes with the territory,” Komphela said. “Coaching at this level, you have to face it. It’s not nice to coach here. It is a prestigious job that everybody else would love to have. But as it happens, like Eric puts it, you have to stay focused. You can’t compete with everybody’s opinion. You have to accept it but remain true to the course. Like you said, you’re in the final and you lose, you must go.
“You win the next game and then you’re suddenly doing a good job. People will always appreciate winners. But when things aren’t that rosy, accept the fact that they will also criticise. You have to be bigger than that and take it. It is about leadership – can you take it? You take it on behalf of your players because if you want to move away, the pressure goes straight to them. You have to enjoy that it’s coming because the environment is big .” - The Star