Cape Town - Orlando Pirates left wing-back Thabo Matlaba has urged the supporters to throw their weight behind coach Eric Tinkler.
Matlaba has played a pivotal role for the Buccaneers campaign in their CAF Confederation Cup and Premiership campaigns.
The 27-year-old has been one Tinkler's more regular players in the line-up during their CAF run where Pirates finished second after Etoile du Sahel won 2-1 on aggregate in the final.
Despite the final loss and underwhelming showing in the Absa Premiership, Matlaba has backed the under-fire tactician.
"The supporters must stop losing patience. Sometimes as players we must take the blame," he said as quoted by KickOff.
"It is unfair to blame the coach when we lose and give the players credit when we win. It is wrong!
"We are a team; when we lose we lose as a team, and when we win we win as a team.
"I want to urge the supporters to rally behind the coach, the players and the whole team...they must give Tinkler a chance because he is a good coach."