Nedbank Cup: Tinkler demands sharpness as Sekhukhune United eye cup and league glory

Dreams are both born and buried in the unforgiving theatre of knockout football, and this season’s Nedbank Cup has once again reminded South Africa why the tournament carries the romantic tag of the ‘Cup of Dreams’.  

As the quarter-finals approach, dreams have been shattered for some. But for Sekhukhune United, hope remains alive, with their progression to the last eight preserving their pursuit of a maiden trophy. Babina Noko have had to roll up their sleeves throughout this campaign. While their opponents so far have come from lower divisions, there has been nothing routine about their progress. 

Each round has demanded patience, resilience and just enough quality in decisive moments. Their slender 1-0 triumph over a spirited University of Pretoria side was another reminder that cup football rarely offers comfort, but instead demands constant survival.

The performances in the opening two rounds may not have fully convinced, yet the opportunity to script a defining chapter in the club’s history remains firmly within reach, with the added incentive of securing qualification for next season’s Caf Confederation Cup further raising the stakes.

But as the competition progresses and many of the favourites have been eliminated, Sekhukhune will need to understand that small improvements won’t be enough — they will need sharper execution and greater command if they are to establish themselves as genuine contenders.

Memories of their run to the final two years ago still linger. On that occasion, they lost narrowly 2-1 to Orlando Pirates, leaving silverware just out of reach but earning a taste of continental football in the Confederations Cup as Nedbank Cup runners-up, since Pirates had already secured a Champions League spot.

Currently on a four-match winning streak across all competitions, confidence within the camp has surged, boosting both their cup ambitions and league push. Still, head coach Eric Tinkler was honest about his team’s most recent performance.

“For the momentum it’s important, but I aspire for better. Am I happy with the result? Yes. Am I happy with the performance? No,” Tinkler said after the match.

His frustration centred on a first half in which his side enjoyed time and space on the ball but failed to fully exploit it. Though Vuyo Letlapa’s decisive strike proved enough to separate the teams, Tinkler believed the contest should have been settled far earlier.

“We made it very difficult for ourselves,” he admitted. 

“In the first half we weren’t recognising the space and time we had. We could have created so many opportunities. There was so much available to us, but the players didn’t see it.”

According to the coach, a stern half-time intervention injected urgency into the performance.

“I was upset with them. This game is about scoring goals because keeping possession comfortably won’t get you the result,” he said. 

“Otherwise, you find yourself like Pirates, going to penalties and throwing it away. They responded well, which was pleasing.”

Attention now shifts to a crucial league encounter against Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday, a fixture that could shape their title ambitions, especially against a direct competitor where a positive result is needed to close the gap at the top and keep their dreams of their best season alive.

* Obakeng Meletse is Independent Media’s multi-sport writer. For fresh video content, follow our YouTube channel The Clutch