Sekhukhune United coach Eric Tinkler expressed pride in his team’s effort and character despite their elimination from the MTN8 tournament.
The team exited the semi-finals after a 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch FC in the second leg, which sealed a 3-1 aggregate victory for Stellies.
Babina Noko went into the second leg in Polokwane with a two-goal deficit after their 2-0 loss in the first leg.
They found themselves further behind when Mthetheleli Mthiyane opened the scoring for Stellenbosch in the 22nd minute.
Nevertheless, the team showed resilience, with Siphesihle Mkhize finding the equalizer in the 66th minute. Despite a late push, Stellenbosch held firm, securing their place in the final.
Speaking to SABC Sport after the match, Tinkler acknowledged that missed opportunities ultimately cost his side. “If we had scored our chance before they scored possibly it could have been a different game,” he said.
“We had a chance that hit the crossbar and possibly it might have been a different game.”
The coach also admitted that his team had to take risks, which left them vulnerable to counter-attacks. “We took that risk, we got punished and we found ourselves one-nil down,” he explained.
Despite the loss, Tinkler was pleased with his players’ performance and attitude. “The team overall put in a massive effort,” he said. “It was never going to be easy to turn things around but I think what I saw tonight makes me very, very happy in terms of the character we showed and the work ethic we showed.”
Ultimately, Tinkler summarized their efforts, stating, “We had chances to score and we got the equaliser, but it was not enough.”
With the win, Stellenbosch FC will now face defending champions Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final on 13 September 2025. The Buccaneers advanced after defeating Mamelodi Sundowns 4-1 on penalties follow