Tinkler’s axe looms: Sekhukhune senior players face uncertain future
The axe is poised to fall at Sekhukhune United as head coach Eric Tinkler has signalled his intentions for a major squad overhaul, sending a message to the club’s senior players that their time at the club may end.
Tinkler took over the coaching job at Babina Noko a few weeks ago following the surprise sacking of Lehlohonolo Seema.
The former Chippa United mentor was fired for the second time at Sekhukhune after being shown the exit door towards the end of last season before he was reappointed a few months later.
After Seema’s departure, Tinkler arrived at the Limpopo-based side alongside his assistant coach, Mark van Heerden. The former Orlando Pirates defender, Van Heerden, is taking the job previously occupied by Kaitano Tembo, who is set to take up a new role in the club’s development ranks.
With Sekhukhune taking a new direction under the ex-Pirates tactician – Tinkler, senior players could see their future decided in the near future.
Before taking the job at Sekhukhune, Tinkler was in the books of Cape Town City FC, where he was fired in December 2024 due to a string of disappointing results.
WHAT ERIC TINKLER SAID ABOUT SEKHUKHUNE UNITED SENIOR PLAYERS
In a radio interview on 947 with Robert Marawa, the experienced coach raised his concerns about the ageing squad at Sekhukhune.
The club currently has Thabang Monare, Daniel Cardoso, Linda Mntambo, Badra Ali Sangaré, Lloyd Kazapua, Njabulo Ngcobo, and Vusumuzi Mncube, all over 30 years old.
“With your question on the Sekhukhune squad, we’ve got a lot of experienced players; the club brought in that experience of Cardoso, Mntambo, and Monare,” Tinkler said. “These players played at big clubs and achieved big things. So, those players have been key features and extremely valuable to the club for the past two seasons.
“We do have an ageing squad if I must be honest; Sangare, Linda, Kazapua, and Daniel [are old]. There are several players who are ageing, and next season, we have to start looking to build and make the team even stronger.
“It’s not that we’ve already made the decision on any of them; we haven’t made the decision on them until next season, but we need to strengthen the squad if we want to be a team that competes in the top four.”
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