Publications
Partners
Maritzburg United head coach Eric Tinkler has revealed that fostering a culture of personal responsibility is the reason for his team's resurgence.
The Team of Choice struggled near the bottom of the standings last season and had to get through the promotion-relegation playoffs to retain their top-flight status.
However, this term they have showed great improvement and find themselves in the top five teams in the league after winning four consecutive games.
Tinkler believes the change of fortune has been inspired by a change in perspective.
"I think it is about giving people responsibility‚" Tinkler was quoted as saying by Times Live.
"I think it's important that they need to take ownership of their own game. You can always look to blame others for our performances‚ we first need to look at ourselves. I think it's important that they focus on that. We take ownership as a squad.
"It's not only me. Yes‚ I give us direction‚ but everybody needs to believe in that direction and everybody needs to want to reach those targets and those directions. I think it shouldn't be me having to scold players when they are not performing well.
"It needs to be his own colleagues because it becomes clearer than when it comes from me."
"You see that in our squad‚ you see that in training. When someone's under-performing the team makes sure that he lifts his game," he added.
"If someone is misbehaving‚ the team must take action against the individual. That is something we have tried to bring in here.
"I've always had the belief that if you treat players like men instead of children‚ they'll be forced to behave like men‚ but if you treat them like children‚ they're going to behave like children."
