Cape Town City head coach Eric Tinkler has raised concern over the team’s continued struggles in the DSTV Premiership ahead of hosting Golden Arrows on Sunday.
The Citizens are struggling in the league since the second round resumed in February. They are winless in nine games, losing four in the process.
Tinkler’s men have stumbled to seventh on the table and are at risk of dropping out of the top 8 with six games remaining.
“Massive concern. Obviously, it is a concern. We are a very ambitious club that wants to achieve things. Now, we have to go back and look at our next game against Golden Arrows.
“But the efforts against Polokwane City (2-2 draw) in our last game were much better. It was something I wanted to see from the players they put in the effort, some of the games they haven’t,” Tinkler told the media.
Tinkler singled out their defensive organization as an area that needs urgent fixing.
City have kept just a single clean sheet in nine previous matches. That was in the goalless stalemate against Kaizer Chiefs in March.
“We just have to keep on grinding and what we do at training, that’s all. All I can do is go back to training and repeat everything we have been doing, especially the offensive phase of our game.
“Defensively, fix the errors that we have been making. There is not much more I can do because my job is to tactically prepare the players,” Tinkler added.
Tinkler insists a mentality shift is needed so that players can understand the responsibility of grinding out results.
“My job is to manage the players, manage the expectations. My expectations. The club’s expectations, their expectations. When they get into that field for 90 minutes, that’s their responsibility, not mine.
“Now, I have to change that mindset. I have to make them aware that when you get into the field, you have the responsibility to get the results.
“If you don’t take your chances, you may end up losing. One win, you go up the table. One defeat, you drop to eighth,” he added.
