Ahead of Saturday’s derby between Cape Town City and Cape Town Spurs, Eric Tinkler has said how happy he is to be back playing at their home ground, the DHL Stadium.
Saturday afternoon’s DStv Premiership fixture will be the first played at the stadium this season, after the pitch had been relayed.
Tinkler is very pleased to be back, as it is the venue where they have always got their best results, and after playing five away games already, he is pleased to now be able to use their home ground advantage.
“Obviously, we are happy to be back now, this has been our home, this is where we have a good record,” Tinkler told iDiski Times.
“We’ve played seven matches so far in the season, only two of them have been home matches and the other five have been away.
“And main reason that was, is because we didn’t have this pitch available for us to play. Our record at Athlone has never been brilliant.
“So we as a team and a club are extremely happy to be back, to see the pitch in the condition that it is, is absolutely fantastic, because it obviously suits the way we play. We are a possession-based team, we like to keep the ball on the floor.
“And for me now no excuse for the players. And a massive opportunity, a derby again. And all important for us to get back to winning ways.”
Of course, there is also the matter of this being a derby, and Tinkler says it has been new assistant and former captain, Lebogang Manyama, who also once played for Ajax Cape Town, who has been reminding the players of the importance of winning this game.
The coach added that the chairman John Comitis has also been reminding the team.
“Actually, the one who’s been drawing attention to this, has been Lebo, since I’ve roped him in, he’s the one who’s who’s making sure that the players are aware of the importance of us collecting the three points,” Tinkler said.
“And then obviously, the Chairman has been a LOT more involved this week. And making the players aware of how important this game is to the club, and to himself and his family.”
