Tinkler demands ruthless Durban City approach for Mauritius test

Durban City coach Eric Tinkler has challenged his players to adopt a ruthless mentality as they seek to complete the job against AS Port Louis 2000 in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup tie in Mauritius.

The Citizens take a 3-1 lead into the return match after winning the first leg at Moses Mabhida Stadium last weekend.

Despite that advantage, Tinkler was dissatisfied with aspects of his side’s performance and felt they had treated parts of the match too casually. He believes that attitude must change if Durban City are to reach the group stages and establish themselves as a competitive force in the competition.

“We’ve got to turn them not into tourists but into locals; it’s as simple as that. Do we want to be tourists, or do we want to be locals? Because a tourist means you’re here for one or two weeks and then you go home. We don’t want to be tourists – we want to be locals. It’s the same with the CAF competition – I don’t want to be a tourist in the CAF competition, I want to be a local. That’s got to be the mindset. You’ve got to set your targets and objectives high,” said Tinkler.

Tinkler has previous experience of continental football in this competition with both Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United. That background has reinforced his belief that Durban City possess enough quality to deal with unexpected problems, particularly when playing away from home.

The coach’s focus is on ensuring his squad approach the tie with greater determination, rather than relying solely on the cushion created in the opening match.

AS Port Louis 2000 coach Clarel Beeharry, meanwhile, believes his team can overturn the deficit on home soil in Mauritius.

Beeharry said the late stages of the first leg had been difficult for his side, who were attempting to secure at least a draw when the score was 2-1. He also pointed to problems beyond the team’s control before and during the match.

“Yes, it is very difficult to get a goal in the last minute, as the score was 2-1, so the team was trying to look for at least a draw. There was also an error, as we had two coaches who weren’t on the bench. Issues were raised regarding their names; they were marked incorrectly, so those were some of the issues we could not control.”

Beeharry added that AS Port Louis 2000’s preparations for the return fixture would be significantly improved after logistical difficulties affected their journey to SA.