Sekhukhune United head coach Eric Tinkler has revealed a key decision he had to make regarding in-form striker Bradley Grobler prior to him scoring his fifth league goal of the season.
Grobler scored a last-minute winner as Sekhukhune beat Golden Arrows 1-0 in a Betway Premiership clash at New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday.
It was a fifth of the season for the 37-year-old in seven matches in the league. In all competitions, Grobler has netted seven goals in his first ten games for Sekhukhune. In addition, the veteran hitman is also now closing in on Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile, who is the current PSL all-time top goal scorer.
He is six goals behind Shalulile and five behind retired Bafana Bafana legend Siyabonga Nomvethe.
“He’s called a sniper for a reason,” Tinkler told journalists, highlighting Grobler’s crucial role in Sekhukhune’s unbeaten run. The team’s impressive form, which includes six wins and a draw, has propelled them back to the summit of the log with 19 points.
WHAT DECISION DID ERIC TINKLER MAKE ON BRADLEY GROBLER BEFORE HE SCORED AGAINST ARROWS?
“We were considering taking him off in the last 10 minutes or so. At least the technical team was asking me, and I said, ‘No, not today.’ Today, we may need him in that final minute, and I was proved correct. It was the right decision to leave him on.”
With the win against Arrows, their sixth of the season, Sekhukhune are a point ahead of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played one game more.
“The three points were the most important factor here, especially after the game against [Kaizer] Chiefs. There is always that concern that the performance would drop.”
“I told you, it’s still very early in the season. We want to be up there. That has been our purpose and objective since I arrived at the club.
“We want to be competing at the highest level. So that’s what we are going to try and achieve rather than talk about winning the league.”
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