Tinkler still believers in City’s chances

Cape Town City might have gone eight games without success, and are yet to win in 2024, but coach Eric Tinker says they are still aiming to finish as high as possible in the DStv Premiership this season.

City have slipped from second to seventh in recent weeks but are still only six points behind second placed neighbours Stellenbosch and have seven games left to play.

Five of those are at home, all in a row between the end of April and their penultimate league game on May 18 against struggling Richards Bay.

“With five home games left, we've got to believe that we can collect maximum points from those,” said Tinkler despite Sunday’s 1-0 home loss to AmaZulu.

“But for me, honestly, it’s just about those next three points and then assess where we are. We have to go game by game, game by game.

“Our target is obviously trying to finish in the top four. That's what we wanted already at the beginning of the season.

“Do we still stand a chance? Is it mathematically still achievable? Yes,” replied Tinkler, “so we got to continue believing that we can, but I don't want to look at the end product. I actually want to just focus now on the next game against Polokwane City.”

City are away in Limpopo on April 21.

“And obviously get ourselves out of this ... I won't call it a rut, because I don't see us in a rut. I think we had only one game against Royal AM where I really thought we were por. But since then the players have responded positively.”

City have never finished lower than seventh in their seven top flight seasons.