Benni has no qualms with Tinkler

Cape Town - Cape Town City head coach Benni McCarthy says the bad blood between himself and SuperSport United manager Eric Tinkler has long been forgotten.

The promising South African coaches come up against each other in the MTN8 final on Saturday in what promises to be a heated encounter against two tactically astute sides.

But the talking point leading up to the fixture has been the famous spat between the two former Bafana Bafana stars who had a scuffle in the 2011 Telkom Knock-Out final played between Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits.

McCarthy, at the time, represented Orlando Pirates while Tinkler was assistant to Roger de Sa at Bidvest Wits and the pair had to be restrained - while the former Buccaneers striker added that his opposite number was lucky he wasn't punched.

"The focus is not on Eric," McCarthy told reporters. "What happened, happened, it's in the past. We've all moved on. My focus now is just on my team. We have to be strong and tough, and we have to play with heart. It won't be easy, but we have enough quality and we have players who can win games. 

"SuperSport, under Eric, will be disciplined and organised. It's going to be tough for us. Eric's teams are always structured, very well organised, and difficult to break down. But I think we are able to do it. 

"We want to take a lot from our games against Wits this season - because Wits and SuperSport are very similar with regards to strength and depth. I'm certainly expecting an entertaining and interesting cup final."

Tinkler reiterated McCarthy's sentiments in a recent interview with the Sunday Independent; "That exchange happened because you had two people who don't like to lose.

"But I have nothing against Benni. That is water under the bridge. We have been cordial whenever we've met each other after that incident."