Cape Town City, Eric Tinkler & John ComitisBackpagepix

Cape Town City have already achieved the impossible, says coach Tinkler

Cape Town City will lock horns with Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday night, knowing that victory is vital if they are to maintain their advantage at the summit of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) table.

City are currently in pole position in the title race, and with the league in its final stretch everything is still to play for. Despite the Citizens’ success, coach Eric Tinkler has constantly downplayed City’s title aspirations, but he has now finally admitted that they are in the title race.

“It’s a real tough match against Chiefs, but it is also a must-win match,” Tinkler told The Star.

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“As I’ve told the players, we’ve got nothing to lose, so let’s throw everything into it in our attempt to win the title.

“Of course, there is pressure. Being a professional sportsman, a player’s career is short, probably around eight-10 years, and the opportunity only comes around once. As such, this is a pressure sport,” Tinkler added.

“Players choose to be professional sportsmen, so they must be able to deal with pressure. Taking that into consideration, that should add to the motivation and determination as they look to win the title.

“We are going for it, but, as a new club, as a team just started, what we have already achieved is phenomenal. Whatever else happens now is just a bonus. We have already achieved what many would have said was impossible,” Tinkler expressed.

“With six games to go, we want to win as many points as we can,” he continued.

“The first obstacle, of course, is Chiefs and they are a very good team. We will have to be motivated, disciplined and display a very good work ethic.

Tinkler also stated that City have an advantage over the Amakhosi, due to their inactivity on the weekend.

“The fact that they played at the weekend is perhaps to our advantage,” Tinkler said.

“It’s not easy playing 120 minutes, then losing the penalty shoot-out, and soon after you are having to play another big game. It’s a headache for Steve (Komphela). Does he rotate? Who does he play?

“But, for us, we can’t concern ourselves too much, we just need to focus on ourselves. It doesn’t matter who they pick to play, we know what brand of football they will use, and we will just have to follow the processes that have made us so successful this season,” Tinkler concluded.

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