‘They do have frailties’: Tinkler on what gives him belief ahead of Pirates clash

While outlining Orlando Pirates strengths, Cape Town City FC head coach Eric Tinkler has revealed what gives him belief his side can emerge victorious in their upcoming MTN8 clash.

The Citizens are set to host the Buccaneers at DHL Stadium on Tuesday, 27 August for the first leg of the semi-final with a return fixture scheduled just four days later.

Tinkler’s troops will be looking to cause an upset with the Sea Robbers aiming to defend the title having won it twice consecutively in the past two campaigns.

Anticipating a packed stadium, the 54-year-old coach insists they can leverage this to elevate their team spirit and chances of silencing Happy People who’re expected to be more than the Blue and Gold Army.

While acknowledging the strengths of the opponents, Tinkler points out that Pirates’ recent draw against the lowly Disciples FC of Madagascar in the CAF Champions League indicates vulnerabilities that can be exploited.

TINKLER BELIEVES ORLANDO PIRATES HAVE WEAKNESSES THAT CAN BE EXPLOITED 

“They have so many qualities, they have a massive squad to choose from,” said Tinkler during the MTN semi-final pre-match press conference on Thursday.

“Their preparations have been exceptional, obviously being able to go to Spain and play against the type of opposition they played.

“But at the same time we saw them drawing away against the team from Madagascar. So, they do have frailties.

“So, we’ve got to go out there, we’ve got to have a full belief in ourselves.

“We have to know where their strengths lie, they’re a very good team on transition. In attack, they are a team that likes to build up and play through phases, playing with technical ability – [Relebohile] Mofokeng, for example in one v one is very, very dangerous.

“So, we have to be aware of all those factors. I think that’s important, what type of holding midfielder do they play with? Do they go with [Makhehleni] Makhaula or Miguel Timm, different type of players.

“Like I said before, for me it’s about us being brave, backing ourselves and looking, especially at home, to play with that positivity and belief and take the game to them.”

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