Tinkler defends Sekhukhune after ‘heartbreaking’ cup exit to Milford

Sekhukhune United head coach Eric Tinkler has stood firm in the face of criticism following his side’s shock Nedbank Cup exit, dismissing claims that a lack of respect for their opponents led to their downfall.

The Polokwane-based outfit became the second high-profile casualty of the quarter-finals on Saturday, falling 3-2 on penalties to Motsepe Foundation Championship side Milford FC. Despite a dominant display at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium, the match ended 2-2 after 120 minutes, leaving the star-studded Babina Noko to rue missed opportunities.

Investment vs. Silverware: Sekhukhune

The elimination is a bitter pill to swallow for the Sekhukhune board. Having heavily backed Tinkler in the transfer market at the start of the season to bring silverware to the club, a quarter-final exit to lower-league opposition represents a significant blow to their ambitions.

However, speaking to the media in the wake of the shootout heartbreak, a visibly disappointed but defiant Tinkler refused to throw his players under the bus.

‘Exceptional’ Performance Amidst the Gloom, Says Tinkler

“I am very happy with the performance that our boys put on tonight,” Tinkler told reporters. “I think they were exceptional; in fact, I don’t think we’ve played like that since the mid-season break. I’m incredibly proud of the effort they put in. It’s heartbreaking for them, but I cannot fault the performance.”

When questioned on whether his squad had entered the tie with a sense of complacency—especially after witnessing AmaZulu’s earlier collapse against Casric Stars—Tinkler was quick to shut down the narrative.

Tinkler: ‘We Were by Far the Better Team’

“No, [we didn’t underestimate them] at all,” Tinkler asserted. “Like I said, our team performed exceptionally well. We were by far the best team on the pitch and created the vast majority of the chances. Milford spent almost the entire match defending, so to suggest we underestimated them is inaccurate.”

Tinkler emphasised that the technical team had prepared for a battle, regardless of the division gap.

“We all knew this was never going to be an easy fixture. It doesn’t matter if an opponent is a division lower; you have to raise your level and play with intensity. I thought we did exactly that today, but football can be cruel sometimes.”