Babina Noko battling as injuries bite at worst time

Babina Noko were forced to come from behind to rescue a 2-2 draw away to AmaZulu on Monday night, a result that leaves them fifth on the table and increases the pressure with seven matches remaining.

Tinkler believes results may have been different had key players such as Medupi Thokolo, Tsepo Matsimbi, Bradley Grobler and Linda Mntambo been available.

"None of them are out due to conditioning reasons, all of them are contact reasons and that's the big disappointment - losing Matsimbi who was exceptional in the first half of the season, then Medupi and then Linda picked up a long term injury. We also lost Rammala and now Bradley Gorbler.

"These are all key players so we had to go to the depth of the squad, and people talk about rotations, but rotations don't guarantee fluidity in your game," explained Tinkler. 

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The coach is also taking responsibility for the slump, especially with the top three finish mandate no longer in Sekhukhune’s hands.  

"Our second half of the season hasn't been good. Somewhere along the line and I think it was during and after the CAF break that we were affected.

"We also lost key players to long term injuries, together with a lot of new faces coming in after the CAF break and these new players weren't regulars where they were playing previously, so they still had to reach the level of conditioning that is required.

"Truth be told, we haven't been good enough in the second half of the season and I take responsibility for that as the head coach. We have to find ways to win football matches and we can still potentially reach our objectives."

Tinkler also confirmed that utility player Rivaldo Coetzee is at the club but would not commit on whether he can plug in the missing gaps.  

Although disappointed they dropped points against AmaZulu, the coach was adamant they were not completely outplayed by their rivals.