Eric Tinkler is the right man to take over the coaching reins at Orlando Pirates, says his old Bafana Bafana teammate and now Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane.
Pirates captain Oupa Manyisa also came to Tinkler's support, defending the coach's single striker formation for Saturday's Soweto derby, which Pirates lost 0-2.
Tinkler was appointed caretaker coach following the sudden departure of Vladimir Vermezovic, who resigned a day after the Buccaneers went down 2-1 at home to Maritzburg United last week.
While Tinkler's first match in charge was regarded as one to forget, Mosimane disagreed: "I saw the first 45 minutes of the Soweto derby, and Pirates were very good. I wasn't able to watch the entire match because we then had to leave for our game [against Free State Stars]."
Pirates take on Sundowns in an Absa Premiership clash at Orlando Stadium tomorrow night (kick-off 7.30pm), with the Chloorkop side still hoping to catch up with log-leaders Chiefs and Bucs desperate to get back into league contention.
Mosimane threw his weight behind Tinkler, who will serve as coach at least until the end of the season.
"I believe [Tinkler] has the ability. He is passionate. Why not [give him the job permanently]?"
The normally media-shy Manyisa defended Tinkler and his match strategies and player formations .
"If you go back to the days when Roger de Sa was our coach we played with one striker. Coach VV used the same system.
"Coach Eric is still using the same system and it does not affect the players at all," Manyisa said.
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