In the wake of Shaun Bartlett’s sacking at Cape Town Spurs, Eric Tinkler of Cape Town City FC has opened up on the “harsh reality” that coaches have gotten accustomed to.
The Urban Warriors announced the exit of Bartlett after the club suffered a 3-1 defeat to CT City coached by Tinkler in the DStv Premiership on Saturday.
Spurs have yet to bag a point this season with the club having lost all their opening seven games under the guidance of the former Charlton striker.
Bartlett led Cape Town Spurs to the top-flight promotion after coming up on top in the PSL Promotional Playoffs against Casric Stars and Maritzburg United in June.
He was sacked along with his assistant coach Nasief Morris and goalkeeper coach Calvin Marlin who worked with him in the second-tier to bring the club back to the DStv Premiership.
Tinkler says as coaches they have to face the harsh reality that football is now a business and a results-driven game. He feels the game is “cruel” as one’s previous achievements don’t matter when the results don’t come.
ERIC TINKLER ON A HARSH REALITY THEY HAVE TO FACE AS COACHES
“Definitely, football is a cruel game, you’re only as good as your last game,” said Tinkler. “That’s a fact, Shaun did a fantastic job, and got them promoted to the PSL. He was unfortunate not to get the results.
“This is how football is. It has happened to me in the previous three seasons, poor start, poor start, pressure, pressure, pressure. You get a win and it changes everything.
“So, we understand it as coaches, it’s part and parcel of our jobs nowadays. The expectations and the demand is a lot higher.
“For some of the fans, it’s not because they love their clubs. But they put money on their clubs to win…hard-earned money. The anger steams even further.
“So, this is no longer a game, this is a business. And I think that’s a harsh reality.”
Meanwhile, the club’s Technical Director Sean Conor has taken up the head coach role temporarily. And the club has also appointed Vasili Manousakis as his assistant coach.
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