Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler has set his sights on a clean sheet and goals as his side prepares to face Orlando Pirates in the first leg of their MTN8 semi-final.
The Citizens will host the Soweto giants at the DHL Stadium next week, aiming to gain a crucial advantage before the return leg.
While Tinkler acknowledges Pirates’ ability to perform well on the road, he believes that a packed stadium, regardless of the supporters, can elevate the level of play. He emphasizes the importance of a clean sheet at home to give his team a better chance in the away leg.
“Pirates, playing at home or away, is always a home game [for them], they get massive support, but on a personal note, I’ve always felt that the fuller the stadium – whether your supporters or the opposition’s, it makes you raise your game another level,” said Tinkler.
“So I don’t think that plays an effect [on the game], I think the fact that – still in this competition – away goals count, so it’s very important to keep that clean sheet, especially when playing at home.
“I think that’s going to be the primary factor for us to make sure we give ourselves more than a chance when we go away from home, and I think that’s very, very important for me.”
Tinkler recognizes Pirates as a formidable opponent but highlights their recent draw against Disciples FC in the CAF Champions League as evidence of their vulnerabilities.
“They’ve got so many qualities, they have a massive squad to choose from, their [pre-season] preparations have been exceptional, obviously being able to go to Spain and play against the type of opposition that they’ve played against,” he added.
“But we saw them drawing away to a team from Madagascar, so they do have frailties, and we’ve got to go out there with full belief in ourselves, knowing where their strengths lie – they are a very good team on transition, they like to build up and play through the phases.
“They also have players with great technical ability – [Relebohile] Mofokeng, for example, in one-v-ones is very dangerous, so we’ve got to be aware of those factors.
“But, for me, it’s about us being brave, backing ourselves, and looking – especially at home – to play with that positivity and belief, and take the game to them.”