Cape Town - Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler warned his players he will not accept fatigue as an excuse for poor domestic form after impressing in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The Buccaneers did not really have a break between the end of last domestic season and the beginning of the current one due to participation in the continental competition.
Despite impressing in the Confederation Cup, Pirates have struggled to get results in the Premiership so far and have already been knocked out of the MTN8 competition, leading to suggestions the players may be burned out.
"We can't be using fatigue as an excuse. The more we talk about it, the more we give the players excuses," Tinkler told KickOff.
"I have tried to explain to the players that you can't use that as an excuse."
The former Bafana Bafana star urged his charges to replicate their continental form back home rather than using it as justification for poor performances.
"You have to come with the same motivation, the same character and same belief you have in Africa and bring it to the league performances. We can do it because we're not only competing with the best teams in Africa, but beating them."