Staff Reporter.
Eric Tinkler is said to be returning to Cape Town City after the club have confirmed they have placed coach Jan Olde Riekerink on “administrative leave” after back-to-back defeats in the DStv Premiership.
Assistant coach Diogo Peral will lead the team for the foreseeable future as it looks as though the Dutch coach’s time in the Mother City is up.
“The club can confirm that it has placed coach Jan Olde Riekerink on administrative leave, with immediate effect. Club assistant coach Diogo Peral will take charge of the team until further notice, “City said in a statement on Monday.
City are seven points clear of ninth-placed Kaizer Chiefs in the battle for a top-eight place, though they have played a game more, and are next in action away at Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday.
City had won three games in a row before a humiliating 5-1 loss to AmaZulu, who are led by former City coach Benni McCarthy, last week. That was followed by a 1-0 defeat to TS Galaxy at the weekend.
Former Galatasaray coach Olde Riekerink joined City in November 2019 as a replacement for McCarthy.
A late season burst saw them finish sixth in the last campaign and it looks as though they will end in a similar position this year.
Olde Riekerink has been in charge for 49 games in all competitions so far, winning 19 to go with 17 defeats and 13 draws.
The former Bafana Bafana midfielder won the Telkom Knockout with the team before leaving to join SuperSport United in June.
Tinkler, who turns 50-years old in June has also had a spell with Chippa United and more recently with Maritzburg United FC, parting ways with the club last year in November.