"This is the biggest game of my coaching career," said Eric Tinkler, who is clearly counting down the days to the first leg of Orlando Pirates' CAF Confederation Cup final against Etoile du Sahel in Orlando on Saturday (8pm kickoff).
The Bucs coach has been working tirelessly to ensure the Buccaneers lift the Confederation Cup after their success in the Champions League 20 years ago.
"At Pirates you always stand a chance of winning the Nedbank Cup, Telkom Knockout or Carling Black Label. Winning the Confederation Cup [now] is the only opportunity I might get as a coach," the former Bafana Bafana midfielder said yesterday.
" It might be the only opportunity that the players get. This is also a big game for them. It would be my first trophy as a coach.
"The Fifa break has helped us spend more time with the players and work on certain areas and rectify a few things. We all have the motivation to win the competition."
Tinkler was an assistant to Roger de Sa when Bucs lost to Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the 2013 Champions League final and he took some valuable lessons from that experience.
"When we played Al Ahly [in the final] we drew 1-1 in the first leg at home. And the key to our success in this year's semifinal against Al Ahly was that we did not concede at home.
"It's important to win at home, but more important not to concede. Yes, we would like to win 2-0 or 3-0, but I would prefer to win 1-0 than 3-1 because, believe it or not, that one goal can make a difference."
In seven matches away from home, Etoile have managed just one win in this year's competition.
They do not do well on the road and Pirates have to take advantage, but Tinkler has warned against underestimating the opponents who won this competition nine years ago.
"I have had an opportunity to watch six of their last games. They are an extremely good team," Tinkler said.
Good news for Tinkler is that Sifiso Myeni, Brighton Mhlongo, Happy Jele and Rooi Mahamutsa have all returned from injury.
'My biggest game as coach'
"This is the biggest game of my coaching career," said Eric Tinkler, who is clearly counting down the days to the first leg of Orlando Pirates' CAF Confederation Cup final against Etoile du Sahel in Orlando on Saturday (8pm kickoff).
The Bucs coach has been working tirelessly to ensure the Buccaneers lift the Confederation Cup after their success in the Champions League 20 years ago.
"At Pirates you always stand a chance of winning the Nedbank Cup, Telkom Knockout or Carling Black Label. Winning the Confederation Cup [now] is the only opportunity I might get as a coach," the former Bafana Bafana midfielder said yesterday.
" It might be the only opportunity that the players get. This is also a big game for them. It would be my first trophy as a coach.
"The Fifa break has helped us spend more time with the players and work on certain areas and rectify a few things. We all have the motivation to win the competition."
Tinkler was an assistant to Roger de Sa when Bucs lost to Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the 2013 Champions League final and he took some valuable lessons from that experience.
"When we played Al Ahly [in the final] we drew 1-1 in the first leg at home. And the key to our success in this year's semifinal against Al Ahly was that we did not concede at home.
"It's important to win at home, but more important not to concede. Yes, we would like to win 2-0 or 3-0, but I would prefer to win 1-0 than 3-1 because, believe it or not, that one goal can make a difference."
In seven matches away from home, Etoile have managed just one win in this year's competition.
They do not do well on the road and Pirates have to take advantage, but Tinkler has warned against underestimating the opponents who won this competition nine years ago.
"I have had an opportunity to watch six of their last games. They are an extremely good team," Tinkler said.
Good news for Tinkler is that Sifiso Myeni, Brighton Mhlongo, Happy Jele and Rooi Mahamutsa have all returned from injury.
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