Sekukhune United coach Erik Tinkler Sekukhune United Coach said his team was outplayed in the first half against Durban City on Wednesday night. But did well to come back and draw the game. Photo: Jehran Naidoo Independent Media
Image: Jehran Naidoo
Sekhukhune United coach Erik Tinkler admitted his side may be beginning to feel the strain of a demanding schedule, describing the current campaign as a “very difficult season” as his players continue to battle near the top of the Betway Premiership standings.
Despite concerns around fatigue and conditioning brought on by a congested fixture list, the Limpopo-based outfit has shown remarkable resilience in the early stages of the season.
Sekhukhune have already outperformed several traditional heavyweights in the league and currently sit third on the table, a position that underlines their strong start. Their determination was on display again on Wednesday night when they salvaged a late point in a hard fought draw 1-1 against City.
Although the visitors were hoping for all three points to strengthen their title push, the late equaliser ensured they did not leave empty handed.
Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Tshepho Mashiloane stunned the home crowd when he struck in the 87th minute, cancelling out Durban’s earlier advantage and rescuing a crucial point for Babina Noko.
The late goal reflected the fighting spirit that has characterised Sekhukhune’s campaign so far. But Tinkler was not at all impressed by his team's first half performance, suggesting they were outplayed by Durban.
While the result kept their momentum alive, Tinkler acknowledged that the packed calendar is beginning to test the depth and fitness of his squad. The team has had little time to recover between matches as they juggle both league and cup commitments.
He believes the key to maintaining their competitive edge will be careful squad management and a strategic approach to rotation as players continue to build match fitness.
“You’re going to have those moments when players are not performing 100%, but we’ve got to go through the processes to get them there,” Tinkler explained.
The coach also singled out several players who he hopes will grow into the team as the season progresses, particularly those who arrived at the club lacking regular game time at their previous teams.
“I’m hoping we start to see the best from Mojela (Lehlohonolo) and (Thato) Khiba. All the new signings who we haven’t seen the best from yet, because they come from clubs where they weren’t playing and we’re in the middle of a very difficult season,” he said.
The demanding run of fixtures highlights the challenge facing Sekhukhune as they aim to remain among the league’s top contenders.
“We started with four games in the space of ten days. Now we have three games in seven days… it’s not easy,” Tinkler added.
Even so, Sekhukhune’s ability to grind out results, even under pressure, suggests they may have the resilience required to remain firmly in the race near the summit of the PSL standings.
Jehran Naidoo is sports reporter with focus on motorsport for Independent Media and editor of the social media channel The Clutch