There’s something about coaches who take up a job at a team that had done well the previous season. Remember Zeca Marques? When Gordon Igesund left after almost winning the title with Moroka Swallows, Marques went on to win the 2012 MTN8 title with a group of players high on confidence. It was the same when Allan Freese took over from Cavin Johnson who missed out on the league title with Platinum Stars in 2012/2013. Freese won the MTN8 and followed that up with success in the Telkom Knockout.
SuperSport United are a side not shy of confidence at the present moment, having become the first club to successfully defend their Nedbank Cup title just four months ago, while making history by reaching the group and knockout stages of the CAF Confederation Cup for the first time since the club’s inception 23 years ago.
This will also be their first MTN8 final since their maiden triumph back in 2004, when it was still known as the SAA Supa 8, which came under then-coach Pitso Mosimane. But Eric Tinkler is no stranger to cup finals either, having guided Cape Town City to their maiden Telkom Knockout crown just under a year ago. With the confidence of their players, and the tactical and technical nous of their coach, Matsatsantsa should have little problem in clinching the top-eight trophy, as well as the R8-million cash prize, come Saturday evening.