Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler has challenged his troops to man up in order to start bringing in positive results, starting in the Nedbank Cup last 32.
The Citizens have lost their last two matches to SuperSport United and Stellenbosch in a Western Cape derby.
Tinkler’s men are also in the bottom half of the DStv Premiership with 11 matches to go.
CT City, who are just five points above bottom placed Marumo Gallants have accumulated 23 points, so far this campaign.
They face Royal AM in the Nedbank Cup last 32 round at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday afternoon, 12 February.
It is a repeat of last year’s fixture when the two clubs met with Royal AM being the victorious side.
Speaking ahead of the encounter, Tinkler says they have been their worst enemy when it comes to consistency this season.
ERIC TINKLER IDENTIFIES CITY BIGGEST PROBLEM
“Our biggest problem this season has been consistency,” he told reporters.
“I think we underperformed and under-achieved and it’s time we step up and man up,” said Tinkler.
Tinkler added: This is the opportunity to do that in the Cup because we go down to the last 11 league fixtures to finish the season. When you look again this season is nearly over. So, I explained to the players, everybody talks about how it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
“But in order to win a marathon every kilometer you have to meet your targets, because if you don’t meet your targets, you are not going to win the marathon. Fact of the matter is that we have not been hitting our targets,” he said.
“So, this has been a week for retrospect, everybody looking at themselves and now doing the business come Sunday against Royal AM and obviously finish the league on a positive note.”
ON FACING JOHN MADUKA
“We are well aware that it’s not going to be an easy match, it’s going to be a difficult match. They have John Maduka back in as a coach who got them back to third last season. I think they’re going to be slightly different outfit.
“So, in terms of our tactical analysis of them, we can’t read too much into what they were doing in the past under the previous coaches.”
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