Cape Town City can win the league — Tinkler

Eric Tinkler exudes confidence that his Cape Town City are credible contenders for the Betway Premiership championship.

The eight-year-old club rose from the ruins of Mpumalanga Black Aces when Mario and George Morfou sold their franchise to John Comitis in 2016.

The Citizens finished third in their maiden season, then fifth, fourth, sixth, seventh, second, fourth and fifth last term. Their lowest points haul was 40 and highest 55. “We’ve always placed ourselves in the top eight, we always want to be a competitive club,” said Tinkler.

“In all the seasons that I have been here, I feel we can challenge for the league title. Last season was bad, [we had] too much reliance on the youth, we had bad performances, the youth struggled. Our recruitment ... we have done well to replace players we have lost. For the past three, four seasons, [Mamelodi] Sundowns have set the bar very high. It’s about all of us having to play catch up.”

Tinkler’s confidence to topple serial league winners Sundowns stems from “the recruitment we’ve done” — adding important experienced acquisitions to the stable for the season that will begin on September 14, with City away to Royal AM in the opening game. “I believe we can win the league. It is going to be a hard task,” he said.

“For the first time in charge of this club, we have put together a squad of experience and youth that can compete with the best. But having a good squad doesn’t mean you have a good team. We are getting into that space. Our target since my arrival has always been to try and finish in the top four. Last season we finished fifth [and that was] on goal difference.”

For the first time in charge of this club, we’ve put together a squad of experience and youth that can compete with the best. But having a good squad doesn’t mean you have a good team 

—  Eric Tinkler, Cape Town City head coach

Tinkler believes City have been astute with their transfer market activity and his new acquisitions strengthen the side with the requisite experience to stake a claim for the No 1 spot and have the trophy of the new sponsor draped with blue and gold ribbons. “We’ve brought in 10 new faces,” he said.

“Some of our players have moved on to better things, some in Europe, Africa and some in South Africa. I don’t think we’ve been able to replace them. But this time we have brought in players who’ll give us a boost, so that we don’t become a stepping stone club.”

The incomings include four free agents: French striker Amadou Soukouna, 32, midfielders Kamohelo Mokotjo, 33, Fortune Makaringe, 31, Carlinhos, 29, and Haashim Domingo, 29.

Soukouna, who played for True Bangkok United in Thailand, is a direct replacement for marksman Khanyisa Mayo, who City sold to CR Belouizdad of Algeria in early August. “Amadou was at Maritzburg before they got relegated and I had identified him. He has speed, good strength, can finish, can shoot and is good in set pieces,” said Tinkler.

“After Maritzburg he went and played for Bangkok. We couldn’t match the money they were paying him. He knew about us wanting him and made himself available. It’s a pity he arrived late, on Sunday. We’re in the process of getting his work permit.

“We always knew Mayo would move on eventually. He had two good seasons, finished as top goalscorer, and got some goals last season. He didn’t want to leave. But there came a time when he realised he had done what he could for the club. We don’t want to be labelled as a selling team. We’re a team that wants to see more trophies in our cabinet. At the same time, we are a club that runs a business.”

Tinkler said Mokotjo, previously with Sekhukhune United, brings calmness. “Kamo played at the highest in the Dutch Eerie Divisie. He’s a talent with calmness and experience. We lost Bryce Sambino to a Norwegian club. It made complete sense that Kamo would come in and prove a point that he has still got it in him.”

Makaringe is reuniting with Tinkler. “We go back a very long way, round about 2009 or 2010. I scouted him as a youngster when I worked as a Nike ambassador, and we selected young players who were sent to an academy Nike used to run in England,” said Tinkler.

“We met again at Maritzburg United, when I saved them from relegation. In the second season he did extremely well, and we finished in the top eight and he was sold to [Orlando] Pirates,.

“His strengths? Comfortable on the ball, technically very good, has the ability to create and assist. His goalscoring ability is not brilliant but his work rate, professionalism and how I want us to play, fits that package completely. He is made for our system.”

Thabo Nodada is the last remaining member from the 12 players who were part of the Aces sale. Skipper Thami Mkhize is another City stalwart. “A lot of players refused to join City. I started with 12. We had to literally build a whole team. Thabo was one of the younger ones coming through the ranks. Slowly but surely he has built his career here. I signed Thami at the beginning of that season from Maritzburg.”

To achieve his aspiration of lifting the league title, Tinkler argues City need to rid themselves of the habit of dropping points against minnows. “When you play against [Kaizer] Chiefs, Pirates or Sundowns, you have a chance to beat them,” he said.

“The challenge is against the so-called minnows, your Chippa United or Magesi. These are the games you must win. We must have the hunger and desire to keep winning. Sundowns might not play well in a specific game but they will still win. Why? They don’t concede a lot of goals, they win even on their worst day. We must take up that mentality and not give away easy points.”

Tinkler wants to upgrade City to continental inter-club competitions level. He was Roger De Sa’s assistant when Pirates lost to Al Ahly in the 2013 Caf Champions League. He fell at the final hurdle of the Confederation Cup to Etoile du Sahel with Pirates in 2015 and to TP Mazembe with SuperSport in 2017.

“As much as the PSL is recognised, if you want to expose yourself, you need to play in the Champions League. That’s where you get noticed, be it as a player or a coach. We must raise our level.”

City will face Pirates in the MTN8 first leg semifinal on Tuesday.

City's first six Betway Premiership fixtures: Royal AM, Sept 14 (away), Orlando Pirates, Sept 21 (home),  Stellenbosch FC, Sept 25 (away), SuperSport United, Sept 28 (home), Magesi FC, Oct 27 (home), Sundowns, Oct 30 (away).