Eric Tinkler defends Sekhukhune goalkeeper dilemma as healthy headache

Babina Noko currently have Toaster Nsabata, Manuel Sapunga and Renaldo Leaner all competing for the number one jersey. 

Tinkler admits that, while Leaner is first choice for now, there are no guarantees as the battle for the starting berth continues the pitch. 

"Obviously at the beginning of the season there were quite a few changes, or rather at the end of last season, when I joined the club Renaldo started to get more game time and Sangare had been the first choice at the time," explained Tinkler.

"We knew that this season there would be a complete reshuffle in terms of the goalkeeping department, and [Leaner] had a great backend of last season when I brought him, with a very good game against Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup.

"He did really well and even got a call up to the national team, which happened in a very short space of time – that's what I mean with the fine line between success and failure.

"And then we signed two goalkeepers – both of whom are internationals, Sapunga and Toaster, and in the beginning of the year with a pre-season, [there was] a lot of competition between the three and a lot of questions, 'Who's the number one?'

"It was difficult for me to give them an answer in terms of who the number one is."

The coach has informed the trio that rotation will be determined solely by their performances as and when they each get a chance. 

"I said, 'Well, the competition will determine who the number one is and the one who keeps clean sheets will determine if he's number one or not," he continued.

"It was as simple as that, really, that they understood now that there's no, 'I'm number one, he's number two and so-and-so is number three; everybody realised that we're all competing for that number one spot, so when my opportunity comes, I grab it.

"We started the season with Toaster in goal, and I think he conceded a few goals against [Golden] Arrows in the cup, and then it made sense for Renaldo to come in – and I don't think you can fault him in terms of his displays, saves, clean sheets and results we've achieved.

"But that competition has to persist and he's made aware of that every single day because of the work that Toaster puts in as well as Sapunga."