TACTICAL TALK TINKLER’S RECIPE BEHIND REVIVED MARTIZBURG

BY ZAAHID NANABHAY

The Peter Mokaba Stadium. It’s the last day of the 2018-19 season and Maritzburg United need a win against Baroka FC to guarantee their survival in the South African top flight. A loss for Baroka would mean they were now themselves in danger of facing relegation while some six hours away in Bethlehem, Free State Stars are fighting for their lives. Free State Stars, fellow relegation candidates, are up against the mighty Mamelodi Sundowns who in turn need a victory to win the title on the final day of the season. It’s a day of absolute chaos.

Maritzburg take the lead in Polokwane in the 20th minute through Fortune Makaringe to secure their safety for the time being; Maritzburg’s fortune means Baroka are now in the relegation zone, just ahead of Ea La Koto on

TINKLER’S RECIPE BEHIND REVIVED MARITZBURG

goal difference. There’s some big moves atop the standings as well with Orlando Pirates shooting to the top for the time courtesy of Stars’ stubbornness in Bethlehem. It was in the 41st minute that all hell broke loose. Phakamani Mahlambi gives Mamelodi Sundowns the lead against Free State Stars and ultimately, the league title, while Stars now need to score two unanswered goals to keep their status alive – this proved to be too big a hurdle for them. Baroka also get an equalizer in Polokwane

TINKLER’S RECIPE BEHIND REVIVED MARITZBURG

before full-time leaving Maritzburg in the playoff spot (15th place).

In short, Free State Stars are relegated and Maritzburg United – after having spent majority of the season rotting at the bottom of the table – have now pulled off a robbery of note to keep their top flights hopes alive by qualifying for the promotional-relegation playoffs.

We’ll have to take it even further back to begin analysing Maritzburg’s remarkable revival. It’s the 29th of January 2019,

Maritzburg United languish rock bottom of the Absa Premiership table and by some margin. The Kwa-Zulu Natal side have earned just 11 points after 19 games of football. They’ve already sacked coach Fadlu Davids who failed to replicate the promise he showed in 2017-18; while his replacement, the experienced Muhsin Ertrugral, lasted just 5 games in charge – in which he lost all 5 games. Without sugarcoating it, Maritzburg United

MARITZBURG UNITED HAVE ARGUABLY BEEN THE SURPRISE PACKAGE OF THE 2019/20 CAMPAIGN.

are in tatters. With the hope of salvaging their season, United announce the arrival of one Eric Tinkler who himself was returning to management after an extremely underwhelming spell at Chippa United. Tinkler’s mandate was clear from club boss Farouk Kadodia: “Save the club from relegation.”

Tinkler’s arrival saw Maritzburg United, who prior to his arrival won just once in nineteen games (YES, 1 victory in 19 games!) – win 5 out of their remaining 10 games of the season. All this before successfully winning all 4 of their playoff games resulting in them maintaining their Absa Premiership status for the 2019/20 campaign.

Maritzburg United have arguably been the surprise package of the 2019/20 campaign. Yes, they ended

up building some serious momentum under Tinkler at the end of last season, but after once again losing key players, not many would’ve expected them to be serious top 4 contenders with 6 games to go.

The Perfect Match

While avoiding relegation was the sole aim for Tinkler, not many would have imagined what a match made in heaven the former Bafana Bafana player and The Team of Choice would become. Tinkler’s gritty leadership style has seen many under-performing United players come to the fore. Despite losing some of his prized possessions who helped him avoid relegation last season, Tinkler’s rather peculiar choice of reinforcements hit the

ground running and in some fashion it must be said.

The Harry Gwala Fortress

Maritzburg United have not lost at the Harry Gwala Stadium on a Friday night since 2017. Their overall form at home this season has seen them lose just twice. Not only do they bring their A-game at the Harry Gwala, but visiting teams also have to deal with arguably one of the most rallied crowds the Absa Premiership has seen this season. It’s no question that most teams dread the journey to Pietermaritzburg.

Tactical talk

From a tactical perspective, Tinkler operates using a very defined style of football. It is not one which the football purists would salivate over. However in a quick space of time and with the right tools in his shed, Tinkler’s men have mastered their counter-attacking based games. He consistently sets his sides up in a narrow and compact formation. Tinkler strangles teams in his own half with a double pivot central midfield in front of a back 5 in defence.

Sharp-shifting, high-rising defensive line

So on the one hand, they’re tight and compact and afford you little to no space in front of them – given their superior numbers game on defence – while on the other hand, they’re aerially sound starting from goalkeeper Richard Ofori. Ofori is an absolute beast in the

air and when he’s not called into action – depending on who Tinkler fields – Rushine De Reuk, Nazier Allie, Kwando Mngonyama, Pogiso Sanoka or Siyanda Xulu are there to win anything thrown behind their defensive line. One of the perks of Tinkler’s set up is that all of his defenders are capable of playing out from the back. They’re also more than capable of playing anywhere in the back-line which I’ll further elaborate on below:

The wing-back

One of Tinkler’s most effective tools this season has been his wing-backs. Mxolisi Kunene, Daniel Morgan, Kwando Mngonyama, Bandile Shandu and Tebogo Tlolane have been crucial to Tinkler’s counter-attacking game. On attacking transition, Maritzburg use both their speedy wingers and wingbacks to race up the field and in behind opposition defences; while on defensive transition where Tinkler’s wing-back is caught out of position up the field of play, United have the ability to easily shift to a back four where either the RCB can shift to RB

and like dominoes, the rest of the defence falls into place.

The double pivot

Keagan Buchanan and Miguel Timm formed part of the double pivot for much of the beginning of the season however the return of Phumlani Ntshangase has seen him partner up with Buchanan. In essence, Tinkler’s double pivot are defensively frail. However, given the defence behind them, their key contributions are their agility. They cover space quickly, force interceptions and are incredibly quick to get Maritzburg’s counter going.

Tinkler’s Arsenal

After losing arguably two of his standout performers in the form of Fortune Makaringe and Siphesihle

MARITZBURG UNITED HAVE NOT LOST AT THE HARRY GWALA STADIUM ON A FRIDAY NIGHT SINCE 2017.

Ndlovu to Orlando Pirates – while Kenyan international Allan Kateregga, Yanick Zakri and Brian Onyango also departed from the club amongst others – Tinkler faced the familiar Maritzburg United conundrum: losing key players, rebuilding and once again restarting the process.

Amazingly, if you looked at Tinkler’s recruits at the start of the season, many would term them as panic buys. Without any disrespect to them, Maritzburg’s new faces were simply surplus players at other top flight teams. Despite calls for a massive overhaul after last season’s disaster class, Tinkler kept many familiar faces around who have repaid his faith in them in full.

Richard Ofori

One of Tinkler’s prize possessions, despite the extremely underwhelming 2018/19 campaign, the Ghanaian international was arguably one of last season’s top performers. He carried his form through and has been immense for Maritzburg this season. A total of 10 sheets in 24 games for Big Rich who forms

the base of an extremely solid yet interesting defensive line.

Rushine De Reuck

Hands down the surprise package of the season. The 24-year-old has risen above expectations to form a critical part of Tinkler’s defence. Some may even argue he’s done enough to earn to earn a national team call-up – however only time will tell. More impressive was De Reuck’s integration into first team football. During a very difficult phase at the club last season, Tinkler stuck with the young and inexperienced De Reuck and boy is he reaping the fruits today. His aerial prowess, game intelligence, superb tackling abilities and his ability to play out from the back has made him one of the most sought after players in South Africa.

Daylon Claasen

As far as surplus to requirements goes, Claasen featured for just 227 Absa Premiership minutes for Bidvest Wits in the 2018/19 campaign before being snapped up by Tinkler. The 30-year-old has definitely been one of Tinkler’s prized possessions this season having made 30 appearances for The Team of Choice already. He’s been given freedom to play ahead of his fellow central midfielders and has been able to maximise his contributions on attack. He already has 5 goals and 2 assists so far this campaign.

Kwando Mngonyama

The former Bidvest Wits defender joined Tinkler from Cape Town City

ONE OF THE PERKS OF TINKLER’S SET UP IS ALL OF HIS DEFENDERS ARE CAPABLE OF PLAYING OUT FROM THE BACK, THEY’RE ALSO MORE THAN CAPABLE OF PLAYING ANYWHERE IN THE BACK-LINE.

where he was a serious ‘bit-by’ player under Benni McCarthy. Mngonyama has been fielded out of his natural center-back position with Tinkler preferring to use him at right-back, where he’s seen consistently putting a serious shift and down the right-flank.

Thabiso Kutumela

Kutumela has finally hit the heights many expected of him almost a decade ago. He’s been directly involved in 10 goals for Maritzburg United this season. Being a perfect counter-attacking winger, Tinkler has used his pace, skill and x-factor abilities to perfection. Kutumela’s form has actually seen him earn a national team call-up!

Judas Moseamedi

Who can forget his Cup heroics! Judas has been doing the hard yards up top for Tinkler whenever given the chance. He has 7 goals so far this season, 3 coming in the Telkom Knockout semi-final and final rounds. He chases after EVERYTHING and is often the only player doing the chasing in the opposition half, a perfect cog in Tinkler’s machine. Ù