What it will take to catch Sundowns – Eric Tinkler

That’s the honest assessment of Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler, whose side is 26 points behind the DStv Premiership champions with six games to go. 

City, currently fifth on the log, were runners-up to Downs a year ago, but like the rest of the topflight clubs have fallen behind the pace. 

"It's always going to be difficult because Sundowns have the ability to bring in a lot of quality. For us as a club, it's difficult to be able to do that, our financial constraints are not the same as theirs. So, we try to bring in quality with what we have but a lot of what we are bringing in is young talent, that still needs time to gel. I think if we can keep our squad together for another year or two then I think we'll be a lot better," he said.

Tinkler was happy with a draw against Sundowns on Tuesday night but felt certain elements of their game proved why they are some distance behind the Brazilians. 

"Once we win the ball we need to get out of those compressed areas because they're very good in compressing the game because they have a lot of numbers, especially in the middle. When you get a ball there if you can get it out very quickly then look to play on the transition then you can catch them. We didn't do that, we need to be better at that. That next pass, that final pass all of that has to get better," Tinkler explained.

But Tinkler admits any player is for sale at the right price when asked if City can hold on to – among others – midfielder Mduduzi Mdantsane. 

SABC Sport reported last month that the Citizens have agreed on a deal in principle for the attacker to move to Kaizer Chiefs next season. 

"We want to keep the majority of the squad that we currently have at our disposal. Because we know that if we can keep it together, in a year or two we can be a lot stronger than what we are now but understand something, no player is not for sale," he concluded.