‘The game has changed’
KICK OFF: Firstly, the playing career that took you to Portugal, Italy and England, did your experiences in Europe spark the interest to venture into coaching?
Eric Tinkler: My interest in management actually started in school. I completed my Matric at Damelin in Johannesburg and the head of the science department was a bloke named Jorge Lobo, he was a referee in the old National Soccer League days and today he’s a match commissioner. He knew I was playing for Wits [University] and he called me into the office and said, ‘you’ve joined Damelin, you need to play for the school, but can you coach the team too’ because he didn’t have a lot of time. I was turning 18 and completing my Matric, and that was my first opportunity to coach, and I realised then that I enjoyed having to identify the talented players and put the team together, preparing them for matchday. Learning at that age is what sparked my interest.
If you look at your generation of footballers and your time overseas, the relationship with coaches and players were more abrasive than it is today. So how do you mould your management style in 2021 if the modern player in South Africa cannot be treated in the same way?
You have to adapt to the new young player, with me having young children I think that’s helped to a degree,
