ERIC Tinkler is surprised that strikers Lehlohonolo Majoro and Kermit Erasmus have been left out of Shakes Mashaba's Bafana Bafana squad, but the Orlando Pirates interim coach is not complaining.
Tinkler is pleased that he will get more time to work with the players during the month-long break in January.
Majoro and Erasmus have scored 10 league goals between them this season, but that was not enough to be included in the 34-man provisional squad announced by Mashaba yesterday ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations next month.
"I am slightly surprised. Majoro and Kermit have been scoring goals of late, but I can't question Shakes. We should support him," said Tinkler. Now that they have not been selected it benefits us. We'll work with them in January to get them ready for our first game against AmaZulu in February."
Tinkler will take charge of his fifth game when Bucs host Bloemfontein Celtic at Orlando Stadium tomorrow (8.15pm).
The former Bafana midfielder is wary of a Celtic side that got back to winning ways on Wednesday in Clinton Larsen's first match in charge, beating Black Aces 2-0 in midweek.
"We got a draw against Celtic away from home. The motivation of their players will be different because they have a new coach. It will be like playing a cup final.
"We are far behind on points now and it's vital we collect as many points as possible to ensure we finish as high as possible on the log. A big club like Pirates should be higher up on the table," Tinkler said.
Celtic are determined to end the year in the top eight. A win would move them into the top half of the table. "We face a Pirates side that is improving," said Larsen. "It's going to be difficult because all the teams want to finish the year on a high. But I think we stand a good chance of winning the game. We should forget about Wednesday's result."
l See Page 35
Duo's omission puzzles Tinkler
ERIC Tinkler is surprised that strikers Lehlohonolo Majoro and Kermit Erasmus have been left out of Shakes Mashaba's Bafana Bafana squad, but the Orlando Pirates interim coach is not complaining.
Tinkler is pleased that he will get more time to work with the players during the month-long break in January.
Majoro and Erasmus have scored 10 league goals between them this season, but that was not enough to be included in the 34-man provisional squad announced by Mashaba yesterday ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations next month.
"I am slightly surprised. Majoro and Kermit have been scoring goals of late, but I can't question Shakes. We should support him," said Tinkler. Now that they have not been selected it benefits us. We'll work with them in January to get them ready for our first game against AmaZulu in February."
Tinkler will take charge of his fifth game when Bucs host Bloemfontein Celtic at Orlando Stadium tomorrow (8.15pm).
The former Bafana midfielder is wary of a Celtic side that got back to winning ways on Wednesday in Clinton Larsen's first match in charge, beating Black Aces 2-0 in midweek.
"We got a draw against Celtic away from home. The motivation of their players will be different because they have a new coach. It will be like playing a cup final.
"We are far behind on points now and it's vital we collect as many points as possible to ensure we finish as high as possible on the log. A big club like Pirates should be higher up on the table," Tinkler said.
Celtic are determined to end the year in the top eight. A win would move them into the top half of the table. "We face a Pirates side that is improving," said Larsen. "It's going to be difficult because all the teams want to finish the year on a high. But I think we stand a good chance of winning the game. We should forget about Wednesday's result."
l See Page 35
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