Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler is bubbling with excitement about the potential of his team after several key signings in the off-season markedly strengthened his side.
He says he will have a tough time deciding his lineup for Saturday’s MTN8 quarterfinal away against Sekhukhune United.
“It becomes harder for me now to sit and choose my starting 11 and it becomes a lot harder choosing my 20-man squad and puts a lot of pressure on myself. But that's the right type of pressure. You want that there's a good healthy competition within the team,” said Tinkler.
City have added the likes of Carlinhos from Petro Atletico in Angola, Hasheem Domingo, Fortune Makaringe and ex-Bafana Bafana midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo to their squad.
“I know we put together a great squad back in 2016,” says Tinkler of his first spell at the club when they came into the league.
“But I think, all in all, the depth that we have currently in the squad, this is probably the best squad that we've had as a club, which bodes well.
“But you can have good players, it doesn't mean you have a good team. That's why I said only come Saturday we will know whether we've got a good team. We know we've got a good squad. We've got a lot of experience, mixed with youth, which I think is extremely important. Young players have benefitted immensely from those players having come in. The quality that has come into the club has obviously raised the bar,” he added.
MOYO OFF TO ALGERIA
City have lost top striker Khayiso Mayo who has signed for Chabab Belouizdad in Algeria.
“I said this before, as a club, we will never stand in the way of the player progressing and bettering his life, so we've always had to be aware of that situation,” said Tinkler.
On expectations against Sekhukhune United on Saturday, the coach added: “The purpose of every team in the PSL is to finish in the top eight at the end of the season because it's an opportunity of a lifetime, R10 million prize money for four matches, good bonus opportunity for the players.
“So I think everybody's hyped up and ready for the game. But we're all well aware that they will be tough opposition, who last season finished off really, really strongly.
“Yes, they've got a different coach. They've got a different playing philosophy now. But the quality of the players that they have still persists. And it's going to be a tough match. So we're going to have to be at our very best.”