Orlando Pirates' up and down form this season has left fans in a rather confused state. On the one hand, he restored a great deal of pride amongst the supporters as they know what it means for the team to do well in continental competition.
Then there is the issue of Bucs' poor form in the PSL. Seeing off some of the biggest names on African soil left fans thinking that the Buccaneers would beat any team their path on the local front.
That has not been the case for coach Eric Tinkler and his troops though.
In his first spell as a head coach, Tinkler did particularly well after only previously having experience as an assistant coach. Reaching any cup final, let alone in Africa, can be seen as a huge achievement for any ‘rookie’ coach.
Pirates' domestic form can also be excused to some extent with many factors justifying their below par showings in the PSL. Injuries to high profile stars meant that Tinkler had to reshuffle his pack and in turn this disturbed the rhythm the team found themselves in.
Then again, fans made the point of Tinkler not being experienced enough to balance out his teams for various competitions. There are also many squad members that have plenty of experience in local and continental competition.
It’s up to the coach to maximise performances regardless of what situation they find themselves in. With Bucs having had an indifferent season so far, this led to many fans having divided opinions as to whether Tinkler can lead a big club like Pirates.
What is your assessment of Tinker's situation at present?
