Sekhukhune title talk came from media - Eric Tinkler

Babina Noko are still on course to meet that objective, but the gap between Tinkler’s side and championship favourites Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns has widened to nine points. 

Tinkler insists talk of a title charge originated externally, stressing that ambitions of winning the league were driven more by media narrative than internal expectation. 

"It's no different to what I said right at the beginning of the season – our target and objective is top three – nothing changes, it's top three," said Tinkler.

"You're the guys who are talking about leagues; I'm talking about top three, that's my mandate – top three."

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Part of the reasons Tinkler believes they aren’t yet ready to challenge for the title is the difference in quality between Sekhukhune and reigning champions Sundowns.

"You see it at every league in the world, I don't think it's [native to the PSL] – Manchester City, they have high quality footballers, vs a Brentford – you understand? It's only normal," he added.

"Those are the differences, not all players are going to have the same ability. It's like I said to the players, if you can see what others don't, you can do what others can't – that's a fact, be it in football or whatever profession you're in.

"It's here now, that's what makes a high quality player different to everyone else – it's that they can see certain things you don't."