As the new Betway Premiership season approaches, all eyes are on how PSL coaches will prepare their teams. The strategies they employ can make or break their campaigns. Let’s take a closer look at how five key coaches—Nasreddine Nabi, Jose Riveiro, Mangqoba Mnqithi, Eric Tinkler, and Steve Barker—are shaping their teams for success.
PSL Coaches Prepare for Betway Premiership
- Nasreddine Nabi – Kaizer Chiefs
- Key Approach: Defensive organisation and fast counter-attacks.
- Performance so far: Chiefs have shown flashes of promise but are still searching for defensive solidity and consistency in attack. Their off-season games have shown rather mixed and confusing results under Nabi. However, he has reiterated that fans need to be patient as he works on tightening the defence with key signings.
- Jose Riveiro – Orlando Pirates
- Key Approach: Fluid formations and high-intensity attacking football.
- Performance so far: Pirates have excelled under Riveiro, winning the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup. His flexible tactics, including shifts from a 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1, have made Pirates one of the top-performing teams in the PSL—their recent consecutive advancement to the MTN8 final shows how they’re a team to reckon with.
- Mangqoba Mnqithi – Mamelodi Sundowns
- Key Approach: Possession football with high pressing and rotation.
- Performance so far: Sundowns remain the dominant team in the PSL, excelling with their possession-based style. However, this season might be challenging for them to find their rhythm following the departure of Rulani Mokwena. Mnqithi has experienced a tough start already after failing to advance to the MTN8 final. Still, he has emphasised that he is not worried, and everything is controlled ahead of the Betway Premiership.
- Steve Barker – Stellenbosch FC
- Key Approach: Strong defensive structure, physical play, and set-pieces.
- Performance so far: Stellenbosch has been steadily improving, becoming a tougher side to beat each season. Barker blends experience with young talent, focusing on physicality and set-piece opportunities for success. This was evident as they progressed to the MTN8 final for the first time and are currently playing in the CAF Confederation Cup. They have proved over and over that they are ones to not be taken for granted.
- Eric Tinkler – Cape Town City
- Key Approach: Defensive discipline and counter-attacking football.
- Performance so far: Cape Town City consistently finish in the top half of the table, relying on defensive discipline and effective set-pieces to win close matches, while being dangerous on the counter.
Conclusion
As the Betway Premiership gets underway, these coaches are shaping their teams with unique strategies. Nasreddine Nabi seeks to rebuild Chiefs into a force, while Jose Riveiro is determined to continue Pirates’ winning ways. Mangqoba Mnqithi will aim to extend Sundowns’ dominance, while Eric Tinkler and Steve Barker are positioning their teams as tough, disciplined sides capable of upsetting the big clubs. The tactical battles between these coaches will be fascinating to watch as they strive for success in the upcoming season.
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