Sekhukhune United head coach Eric Tinkler has detailed the risk he has taken on his January signings, Lesiba Nku and Lebogang Phiri.
Babina Noko announced Nku as their new player on January 30 after he arrived at the club as a free agent following his transfer listing by Stellenbosch FC in November 2025. He last featured in competitive action that same month. The former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder found a new home at Sekhukhune, who had already signed Phiri earlier on.
Phiri is playing Betway Premiership football for the first time in his career. This followed a club career in Europe, where he arrived in 2013 for stints in Denmark, France and Turkey. Before signing for Sekhukhune, the 31-year-old had last tasted competitive football in April 2025 while turning out for EA Guingamp.
While Phiri made his Babina Noko debut on January 20, Nku’s maiden game was last Sunday against TS Galaxy. It was a match in which Phiri was making his second start for the club after substitute appearances in his previous two games.
TINKLER EXPLAINS THE RISK HE HAS TAKEN ON NKU AND PHIRI
The two new signings made their Sekhukhune debuts just after being unveiled by the club. But they had spent long periods on the sidelines, especially on Phiri’s part.
“Nku wasn’t being used much at Stellies, unlike [Thato] Khiba, who at least was used in the CAF Confederation Cup by Stellies, so he was getting a little bit of game time,” said Tinkler at a Nedbank Cup press conference on Thursday.
“I gave Nku 20 [sic 12] minutes against TS Galaxy. It’s very evident that he is not fully conditioned to play 90 minutes. I have to take a risk which is what I have done.
“The same I did with Lebogang Phiri. I forced him to play 76 [sic 79] minutes, I don’t think he is capable of playing that. But I took that risk to try and fast-track him.
“With Nku, it’s going to be exciting. You know the talent is there, the ability is there, but right now I don’t think he can give us a full 45 minutes,” the former Bafana Bafana midfielder went on.
“I have to plan and our strategy is, when is the right moment to bring him in, to give him that game time that he desperately needs? But at the same time, my primary job is to win football matches.
“So, I have to balance it quite well. The chairman was upset with me which is understandable. So that is the risk I take because I have been there and I know what it’s like playing at that level and what players are capable of achieving.
“I do have my sports scientist who gives me feedback in terms of what the data is telling me, but sometimes I don’t listen to the data. I can see what the player is telling me and I take my decisions on that reason.”
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