DURBAN - Chippa United have appointed Eric Tinkler on a one year contract. The club cut ties with Dan Malesela via email on Tuesday night. Malesela lasted for three games at Chippa United before his departure.
Club representative, Lukhanyo Mzinzi, confirmed in an interview with Independent Online that the Chilli Boys have appointed Tinkler: "Yes, it is true that Dan Malesela has left the club with immediate effect. Eric Tinkler will take over. We have given him a one year contract with an option to renew with another year. He has done very well in his previous three clubs."
Malesela lost two league matches and played out to one stalemate. He was beaten by Bloemfontein Celtic and Orlando Pirates. The Chilli Boys shared the spoils with Black Leopards this past weekend.
"Tinkler took Pirates in to the final of the Caf Confederation Cup. During his time with Cape Town City, the club won the Telkom Knockout and finished third on the log. He will bring in a wealth of experience. He will start his duties tomorrow," Mzinzi added.
Tinkler will make a decision as to who he wants to work with at the club. "We do apply our minds before we take such decisions. We don't just take decisions out of the the blue. The club deliberated on a six hour meeting on Tuesday," Mzinzi said.
"The management was not happy with a number of things. The way we lost and the way we conceded goals. We are the only hope of the Eastern Cape in the National Soccer League set up. We don't have another club beside Chippa United in the PSL and the NFD. We had to act quick."
Tinkler has been jobless since he left SuperSport United last season. His first assignment will be up against his former club in Matsatsantsa A Pitori on August 29. "We respect Dan. We know he loves the club and the clubs also loves Dan," Mzinzi added.
"The relationship with the chairman (Siviwe Mpengesi) goes beyond the working relationship. We appreciate all the work he did for the club. We lost 2-0 against the Bloemfontein Celtic side that have financial problems. We then lost to an own goal against Orlando Pirates and drew with the newly promoted Black Leopards. We are hopeful that Tinkler will do well at the club."