Eric Tinkler has revealed that Durban City FC's place in the CAF Confederation Cup was a major factor in his decision to become the club's new head coach. The former Bafana Bafana international, who took charge just over a week ago, sees the continental competition as the centerpiece of the season.
"The CAF Confederation Cup was one of the main reasons why I came here, and we want to cement ourselves in that competition, which will take a lot of hard work," Tinkler said. His first official match ended in a 2-1 home defeat to AmaZulu in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday night, a result that leaves the club 11th in the table with seven points from eight games. Domingo scored a 72nd-minute consolation after the side conceded twice in the first half.
Focus on the continental prize
Despite the domestic setback, Tinkler's immediate focus is on Sunday's key second preliminary round clash against Mauritian side AS Port-Louis 2000 at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Durban City earned their Confederation Cup spot by winning last season's Nedbank Cup and progressed past Burundi's Rukinzo FC 3-1 on aggregate. A place in the lucrative group stage is at stake.
The technical team has obtained video footage of their opponents to prepare. "Being involved in CAF Competitions is something every club and every coach wants to be part of," Tinkler noted. "Both legs are crucial to qualify, but in between these we have other difficult domestic games to take off." The first leg kicks off at 3pm.
Building on a short tenure
Tinkler, who succeeded Khalil Ben Youssef and was officially appointed on 8 October, acknowledged his brief time at the club. He pointed to positives in the second-half response against AmaZulu after making tactical changes at the break. His broader targets for the campaign include a top-eight league finish and strong runs in the domestic cups. With a goal difference of minus two, defensive solidity will be a priority as they juggle continental and domestic commitments. The full squad list shows the depth available for this demanding period.
Background and full detail: sabcnews.com
