Tinkler confident going into cup derby

31 July 2015 - 02:11 By Tshepang Mailwane and Mazola Molefe

Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler will probably be more relaxed than his newbie Kaizer Chiefs counterpart Steve Komphela on the touchline at FNB Stadium tomorrow. Tinkler is yet to win a Soweto derby since he took over at Pirates last year, but he says he never feels the pressure on derby day.The Soweto giants clash in the pre-season cup for the fifth time and Pirates are the favourites.The Buccaneers have been playing competitive football in the CAF Confederation Cup while Amakhosi have been trying to regain match fitness with pre-season friendlies."Obviously I have not been preparing for this game the same way I would prepare for a league fixture or an MTN8 final," Tinkler said yesterday."But on match day, believe it or not, I am actually comfortable and confident. I know there is no need to motivate the players to get the best out of them. That takes the pressure off me as a coach knowing the players will perform to the best of their ability."Komphela said Amakhosi had to adapt to the format of the Black Label Cup as supporters were showing the club what they liked. "You can't pass on [the] responsibility. The fact that you have been given a unique opportunity to be a coach of this club means that any result coming will be pointing at you even though one accepts the fact that it is in the control of the people. We have played this competition four times and have lost it thrice and won once. And that is a reflection on us, not how supporters wanted to see things. It comes with the territory and we embrace it."Tinkler believes players are scared to express themselves on derby day because they are put under pressure by the fans."Come derby day they are tense and nobody wants to make mistakes. And then you find the derby is boring as people have mentioned in the past. Players need to be given more freedom to express themselves and I do not think that has happened in a number of years."..

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