JOHANNESBURG (Azat TV) – Sekhukhune United has officially parted ways with head coach Eric Tinkler, marking a significant leadership change as the club attempts to salvage its 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign. The decision, confirmed by SABC Sport, follows a period of mounting pressure on the technical team after a string of inconsistent league results and a demoralizing quarter-final exit from the Nedbank Cup at the hands of lower-league side Milford FC.
Strategic Restructuring at Sekhukhune United
The departure of Tinkler comes alongside the exit of his assistant coach, Marc van Heerden. The club has appointed Paulus Masehe to take charge on an interim basis for the remaining six matches of the season. This leadership transition occurs as the club undergoes a broader reorganization of its football operations, recently headlined by the appointment of Walter Steenbok as Director of Football Strategy. Management intends to work alongside Sporting Director McDonald Makubedi to define a new long-term vision for the team.
The Decline of Babina Noko
Tinkler, who arrived in March 2025 as the successor to Lehlohonolo Seema, initially brought stability to the side. Under his guidance, the team secured a fourth-place finish last season and entered the current campaign with aspirations of a top-three finish and CAF qualification. However, form plummeted following the mid-season break. Despite a narrow 1-0 win over Magesi FC last weekend, the team had previously endured a five-match winless streak that left them in fifth place with 38 points, trailing third-placed Kaizer Chiefs.
Stakes for the Season Finale
With only six matches remaining, the stakes for Sekhukhune United remain high. The club still holds a mathematical chance to challenge for a CAF Confederation Cup spot, a goal Tinkler had publicly championed throughout the season. The pressure to secure that finish now falls to Masehe, who must navigate a challenging run of fixtures against Stellenbosch, Marumo Gallants, and Kaizer Chiefs. The club is expected to commence the search for a permanent successor in the coming weeks.
The dismissal of Tinkler signals a definitive pivot from the club’s previous stability-focused era toward a data-driven strategy under new football operations leadership, prioritizing immediate tactical rejuvenation to secure a top-three finish before the season concludes.