Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler has no intention of rotating his squad despite his concerns over fatigue.
The Buccaneers will enter a phase where they will have very little time between matches and the medical team will be working tirelessly to ensure players are in good condition during the hectic few months that lie ahead.
They will be travelling even more than they did during the off-season and Tinkler will need to rest his players whenever the opportunity arises.
Today their domestic campaign gets under way with a MTN8 quarterfinal clash against Ajax Cape Town at Orlando Stadium (7.30pm kickoff) before they take on Tunisian outfit CS Sfaxien in the CAF Confederation Cup at the same venue on Saturday.
"Fatigue is a major concern for me. We have tried to rest the players as much as possible. Our fixtures don't help us," Tinkler said.
"If the players are in good condition then obviously I will continue to use those players.
"The game against [Kaizer] Chiefs in the Carling Black Label Cup [on Saturday] was also a great opportunity for me to see the likes of Tendai Ndoro and Luvuyo Memela. It makes me well aware what they can do."
Tinkler is likely to start with Ntsikelelo Nyauza at right back. He was an unused substitute against Chiefs as Tshepo Gumede got his chance to play at the back.
This means Happy Jele would play in central defence with Nyauza at right back.
Up front Tinkler looks set to hand Ndoro his first start with Thamsanqa Gabuza and Kermit Erasmus still nursing injuries.
Ajax coach Roger de Sa, meanwhile, returns to Orlando Stadium hoping his youngsters can perform as well as they did in the Nedbank Cup last season. The Urban Warriors reached the final only to lose to Mamelodi Sundowns.
They had a good pre-season, with matches against Jomo Cosmos, Sundowns, SuperSport United and Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon.
l See Page 21
Tinkler wary of rotating squad
Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler has no intention of rotating his squad despite his concerns over fatigue.
The Buccaneers will enter a phase where they will have very little time between matches and the medical team will be working tirelessly to ensure players are in good condition during the hectic few months that lie ahead.
They will be travelling even more than they did during the off-season and Tinkler will need to rest his players whenever the opportunity arises.
Today their domestic campaign gets under way with a MTN8 quarterfinal clash against Ajax Cape Town at Orlando Stadium (7.30pm kickoff) before they take on Tunisian outfit CS Sfaxien in the CAF Confederation Cup at the same venue on Saturday.
"Fatigue is a major concern for me. We have tried to rest the players as much as possible. Our fixtures don't help us," Tinkler said.
"If the players are in good condition then obviously I will continue to use those players.
"The game against [Kaizer] Chiefs in the Carling Black Label Cup [on Saturday] was also a great opportunity for me to see the likes of Tendai Ndoro and Luvuyo Memela. It makes me well aware what they can do."
Tinkler is likely to start with Ntsikelelo Nyauza at right back. He was an unused substitute against Chiefs as Tshepo Gumede got his chance to play at the back.
This means Happy Jele would play in central defence with Nyauza at right back.
Up front Tinkler looks set to hand Ndoro his first start with Thamsanqa Gabuza and Kermit Erasmus still nursing injuries.
Ajax coach Roger de Sa, meanwhile, returns to Orlando Stadium hoping his youngsters can perform as well as they did in the Nedbank Cup last season. The Urban Warriors reached the final only to lose to Mamelodi Sundowns.
They had a good pre-season, with matches against Jomo Cosmos, Sundowns, SuperSport United and Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon.
l See Page 21
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