Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler has given Thamsanqa Gabuza couple of days off to keep him fresh for the upcoming TKO semifinal game against their Soweto arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday at the FNB Stadium.
Gabuza was absent from the team that defeated Ajax Cape Town 2-1 last night (Wednesday) after Tinkler felt he was tired and needed him to be fresh for their encounter against Chiefs on Saturday.
“Gabuza has played every single game, hasn’t missed a game. I think you all see and recognise the work rate he has been putting in. Immediately, on Sunday after the derby, I could see how tired he was, both physically and mentally. Tinkler says.
“I sat him down and told him I was going to rest him for this game (Ajax Cape Town game) and I gave him a couple of days off. He will be back for the derby.”
On how he is dealing with fatigue overall, Tinkler said it is an on-going processes of assessing the players and resting them when feeling they are too tired.
“You manage it by assessing the players, realising, yes we have an extremely busy schedule and certain players need to be rested. But it is always difficult decision as you are dealing with players on form. Players could be on form, and resting them might be the worst thing you could do. Because that could delete that form.”
Written by: Diski Voice
