Sekhukhune United coach Eric Tinkler is backing Bradley Grobler to find his shooting boots again. Despite a frustrating draw against Polokwane City, Tinkler insisted that the veteran striker just needs the right supply from his teammates to help Babina Noko secure a CAF spot. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backagepix
ERIC TINKLER disagreed with the notion that Bradley Grobler was ‘experiencing a slump’, but rather thought the stalwart striker required better supply from his teammates, who needed to remember that Grobler was a ‘box player’.
Grobler missed a great chance to win the match for Sekhukhune United in their goalless draw with Polokwane City in Saturday evening’s Limpopo Derby at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. The 38-year-old had also been a bit off the boil the previous week when Sekhukhune lost a Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash against Milford FC via a penalty shoot-out.
Asked if it was a lack of confidence or a loss of form that had seen the normally lethal striker firing blanks, Tinkler reminded reporters that players were human too.
“It happens,” Tinkler said. "Players go through ups and downs, you know.
"These are not machines and I think that's what people need to realise. We're dealing with human beings here who have good days and bad days, you know. And it's not a case, I think, of Brad going through a bad period. He scored just a week ago.
"The games are just coming thick and fast and it seems like he's in a slump. It can change. One goal can change everything. One action actually can change a person's motivation and confidence."
Tinkler believed that with Sekhukhune chasing a top-three finish, there was still the possibility of Grobler being among the season’s Betway Premiership top scorers. The son of former Moroka Swallows dead-ball specialist Les had scored eight goals at that stage, four fewer than leading scorer Junior Dion of Golden Arrows.
“Anything is possible. We're still chasing to finish in that top three. And we're going to need goals in order to achieve that.
"So, if Brad scores and gets back the opportunities … I don't think he's getting as many as we did at the beginning of the season.”
Tinkler was particularly disappointed by the decisions made by his team against City.
“If we can get back to those principles, you know … Like (Tshepo) Mashiloane in the first half, we're in the final third and you're not putting the ball in the box. You're going all the way back to the goalkeeper.
"That's just an example why, you know, Bradley is a box player. So when you're in those positions, put the ball in the box.”
He referred to another example of his players not understanding the kind of teammate they had in Grobler.
“And then in the beginning of the second half, same thing. We're in a great position now, but we're looking for another pass. Just put it in there. Right at the death, you're telling the defender ‘time’s up’.
"Why do you want to build up?
"Just hit Bradley. We hit Bradley, we create a chance. So if we do that more, maybe Brad gets more goals.”
The more Grobler scored, the better the chances were of Sekhukhune holding on to third place to realise their objective of returning to continental football with qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup.
The draw with City was no train smash, even though it saw them move level on points with AmaZulu in third place with nine matches to go.
“What's more important is to make sure we keep clean sheets, which we did again. And we had chances to win this game. So we take the point and we move on to the next one.”
That next match was an away trip to Arrows the following Sunday.