HERMAN GIBBS
Cape Town City will be the first Premiership club to experience the impact the new Sekhukhune United coach, Peter Hyballa, will have on South African football.
The German-born Hyballa will make his debut in South Africa when Sekhukhune host City on Saturday in an MTN8 quarter-final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Eric Tinkler said Hyballa’s appointment will pose several new challenges that City will have to deal with on Saturday.
“We are aware that Sekhukhune will be tough opposition after they finished strongly last season,” said Tinkler.
“They have a different coach and the team has a different philosophy. We will have to be at our best because the quality of their players persists.”
The City players will be hyped up for the match because there is so much at stake.
“The purpose of every team in the PSL is to finish in the top eight at the end of every season. It offers a lifetime opportunity with a R10m prize after four matches. This will be a good bonus opportunity for the players,” said Tinkler.
“I have been happy with what I have seen in the squad. There is intensity, and our training sessions have been good, although the state of the (training) field has made it challenging.”
Heavy rains had damaged the surface of City’s training field.
“We have been training mostly on artificial surfaces, but we’re back on the field to prepare for the match this week,” Tinkler said. “It has been all about Sekhukhune, what we plan to do against them and how we set up.”
City’s current squad has good depth and Tinkler feels it is the best squad the club has had.
“The depth in the squad bodes well but you can have good players, but it does not mean you have a good team. On Saturday, we’ll know if we have a good team. We know we have a good squad. We know we have a lot of experience mixed with youth, which we think is important.
“Young players have benefited immensely with them (experienced players) coming in. The quality that has come into the club has raised the bar for the players, and that is what you want as a coach.
“It has become harder for me to choose my starting 11, as well as my 20-man match day squad. It puts a lot of pressure on me but that is the right type of pressure you want because there is good healthy competition in the squad,” Tinkler said.
The City mentor confirmed that striker Khanyisa Mayo has joined Algerian side CR Belouizdad. The 25-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the Algerian giants. His decision to play in Algeria has come as a blow to Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs, who were keen on his services.