Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Fortune Makaringe has opened up on his reunion with coach Eric Tinkler who is in charge of Cape Town City FC.
Makaringe played under Tinkler in 2019 when the latter was head coach at Maritzburg United [now Durban City].
Tinkler was at the then Pietermaritzburg-based club from January 2019 up to November 2020, when he left the club. On the other hand, Makaringe had been in the team’s structure from January 2015 to July 2019 before he was lured to Pirates.
Simply put, the duo worked together for seven months before the 31-year-old Makaringe left the club for the Soweto giants.
And it was during that time that they forged a father-son relationship until a chance emerged for a reunion after Pirates released Makaringe before the start of the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season.
Makaringe is the first to admit that he has a special relationship with coach Tinkler, something which gives him an insatiable desire to fight tooth and nail for the Cape Town City FC badge.
WHAT THE EX-PIRATES MIDFIELDER SAID
In an interview with FARPost, the ex-Orlando Pirates midfielder opened up about his relationship with Tinkler.
“It was more than a reunion because he had faith in me even after leaving a bigger team, even as I was not getting game time,” he said. “He was quick to say come and play for us. And because we had worked together before, it has been easy to fit in.
“But it was more than a reunion because the team leadership made me feel comfortable. They made my family feel welcome because these transitions are sometimes challenging.
“In fact, this has been my best welcome by a club so far. The transition has been smooth, and it’s like I was always here.
“Coach Eric knows me very well; he brought me to Cape Town City. He knows I can play in any position he wants except goalkeeper.”
Makaringe has so far featured in three Betway Premiership matches for CT City, with no goals under his belt.
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