NEWS: ‘We see ourselves as a top-four club’- Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler says Citizens need to do things differently heading into next season

Despite a strong start to the season, the Citizens ended the recently finished campaign in fifth place with 45 points.

City achieved the same number of points as the league’s surprise package Sekhukhune United, but Babina Noko enjoyed a better goal difference.   

The Capetonians’ head coach Eric Tinkler has given reasons he believes they are hampering their progress to become one of the forces to be reckoned with in the DStv Premiership.

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“As I said, last season and the seasons before, we see ourselves as a top-four club,” Tinkler told media during the CAF A Licence graduation in Johannesburg.

Tinkler pointed out their failure to keep experienced players or make sure they replace them with equally good players as the main reason.

“I think in the season that just ended, we took a little bit of risk with the amount of youngsters that we were bleeding into the team,” Tinkler said.

“Over the past few seasons, we have lost experienced players who have moved on to other clubs for other opportunities.

“But we really haven’t gone into the market to look for someone of experience and maturity.”

The former Orlando Pirates and Maritzburg United boss has discussed this with the club owner John Comitis.

“Obviously, this is a discussion that we had quite a while back, looking to ensure that this coming season we have a lot more depth in our squad.”

City have already begun preparations for next season as they have parted ways with Thabiso Kutumela, Jo Paciencia, Relebogile Mokhuoane, goalkeeper Bongani Mpandle and Khanya Leshabela.