Tinkler questions Sekhukhune mentality despite strong results against title contenders

Sekhukhune United coach Eric Tinkler has warned that mentality, rather than ability, remains his side’s biggest obstacle despite another strong showing against title contenders.

Babina Noko were held to a goalless draw by Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership on Saturday at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium, a result that kept Sekhukhune fourth on the standings with 26 points from fifteen matches.

The point further strengthened Sekhukhune’s reputation as a troublesome opponent for the league’s heavyweights. 

This season they have taken four points off Pirates and inflicted Kaizer Chiefs’ only league defeat to date, consistently rising to the occasion in high-profile fixtures.

Next on their schedule is a home clash against league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, a side they are yet to face this campaign, adding further intrigue to what has already been an impressive run against top opposition.

However, Tinkler believes these results mask a deeper issue that has prevented Sekhukhune from turning strong performances into a sustained title challenge.

“The frustration that I have is that I know the players will pitch up to these games, but the ‘smaller teams’ or the teams at the bottom of the league are the teams we struggle against,” Tinkler said at the post-match press conference.

He highlighted the difference in expectation between his side and clubs like Pirates, who are conditioned to approach every match as a must-win encounter.

“The difference between us and Pirates is that they know they play a game a week with teams wanting to beat them, so they have to play every game like it’s a cup final because the expectation is for them to win leagues,” he said.

“Our players haven’t got to that in my view.”

While stressing that ambition exists within the club and technical team, Tinkler suggested the players’ intensity drops when facing opponents lower down the table.

“Us as a club and a technical team, we are ambitious and we want to win things, but I tend to think the players approach those matches against the smaller teams not with the same energy, intensity and fight that they showed today,” he added.

Tinkler believes that closing that mentality gap is the key to consistent progress in the Betway Premiership.

“Now if they could do that in the so-called smaller games, we could be collecting more points,” he said. 

“Sundowns don’t win the league because they beat Chiefs, Pirates or us. They win it because they beat everyone else, and that’s the challenge.”

Despite his concerns, Tinkler acknowledged the value of the point against Pirates, particularly with another demanding fixture on the horizon.

“We were fortunate today to get a point, but we have to take that point as a positive and use it because we have another big one coming against Sundowns,” he said.

For Sekhukhune, the challenge now is clear: turn big-match performances into week-to-week consistency.