Embattled Tinkler gets to survive another match
JOBURG - A goal in each half of this Absa Premiership match by Orlando Pirates gave embattled coach Eric Tinkler a much needed reprieve as he gets to survive yet another game.
A goal in each half gave Orlando Pirates a 2-0 win against the University of Pretoria in an Absa Premiership match, to give embattled coach Eric Tinkler a much-needed reprieve as he got to survive yet another game.
The fans who have been calling for Tinkler’s scalp were somewhat silenced when Pirates captain, Thabo ‘Festival’ Matlaba scored the opener in the dying minutes of the first half of the game played at the iconic Orlando Stadium. Another strike, less than two minutes into the second half by Sifiso Myeni, sealed the win.
Although the game was a dull football match not worth the money paid for by the handful of spectators, the Soweto giants missed a number of clear-cut scoring opportunities, the major culprit being Kermit Erasmus.
The AmaTuks strikers also fluffed four good opportunities which had goal written all over them. In most of the game, they played second fiddle to Pirates who were missing regular players Mpho Makola, Patrick Phungwayo, Happy Jele, Lehohonolo Majoro and Thamsanqa Gabuza.
But Pirates were happy to have been handed three points on a silver platter by the University of Pretoria, a team which could soon find itself staring relegation in the face. The feeling among sports journalists is that if AmaTuks want to survive in the premiership, they should venture into the market and source quality players to beef up their squad.