Tinkler: “This Was The Best Time To Lose”

Sunday’s game between Orlando Pirates vs Zamalek  was all about who finished top of the CAF Confederations Cup Group B standings, both clubs have been already qualified for the semi-finals after going into the game with 12 points each.

Pirates’ defeat means they will now face their old rivals and eight time CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly (the team Pirates lost to in the 2013 Champions League final), in the last four, while Zamalek will face the Tunisian outfit Étoile du Sahel.

“We started poorly and allowed Zamalek to play, and we conceded an early goal,” Tinkler said after the 4-1 return  match played behind closed doors at the Petro Sport Stadium, Cairo.

“We tried to come back [via Oupa Manyisa’s equaliser], but then we allowed them to take back their lead through poor defending from us.”

“At half time we tried to explain the importance of playing tight, but we conceded a second and a third goal, which sealed our fate,” he said.

In spite of the disappointing loss it’s certainly not the end within the Pirates camp, with Tinkler now looking to plan a way to ensure that the mistakes of Sunday night are mot repeated in the future.

“This was the best time to lose, if at all, because we are still in the competition. We can go back and learn from our mistakes.

“It would have been ideal to win and top the group to boost our morale but, like I said before, it doesn’t matter who we face in the semi-final,” concluded Eric Tinkler.