Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler has claimed the April 2022 DStv Premiership Coach of the Month award after guiding the Citizens through the month unbeaten.
The former Bafana Bafana midfielder led his side to three victories and two draws in five matches in April, as City moved up to second on the log standings, giving his side a strong chance of securing a Caf Champions League spot for the first time in the club’s short history.
The Citizens kicked off the month with an impressive 5–1 win over Baroka FC, and then beat Maritzburg United 1–0 away from home. The two wins were followed by draws with high-flying Royal AM and champions Mamelodi Sundowns. Tinkler’s men closed off April with a 2–1 win away at Kaizer Chiefs.
Judges were hugely impressed by Tinkler’s resilience and resolve in grinding out results following a difficult time of losing up to four key senior players in the January transfer window. The Cape side was also able to hold their own and avoided defeat against some of the top sides in the league in April.
Tinkler came out tops ahead of the Sundowns coaching duo of Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena as well as John Maduka of Royal AM, after votes from a panel of media and football experts. This was Tinkler’s fourth monthly award following his first back in 2017.
Peter Shalulile returned to get another monthly awards accolade as he bagged the DStv Premiership Player of the Month. The Namibian striker impressively scored six goals in Sundowns’ three outings which were back-to-back hat-tricks in victories over Swallows FC and Golden Arrows in April. Shalulile maintained his great scoring form this season as he remains top goal scorer with 22 goals in 29 matches.
Other notable performances during the month of April included the Citizen’s duo of Craig Martin and Hugo Marquez and Victor Letsoalo of Royal AM.
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs’ Keegan Dolly walked home with the DStv Premiership Goal of the Month award, for his free-kick against Chippa United. This is Dolly’s second Goal of the Month Award of the 2021/22 season.
For their exploits, Tinkler and the two players will each receive a trophy and R7 000 courtesy of league sponsors DStv.
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