The gloves come off this weekend when the top eight Premier Soccer League clubs get down to the business of opening the new season with R8-million at stake in the new MTN 8 competition.
There was good news for SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt when his former Bafana Bafana striker Glen Salmon passed a fitness test and will make his debut for his new club in the mouth-watering quarterfinal clash against Orlando Pirates at the Johannesburg Stadium on Friday night. Kick-off is at 8pm.
Salmon rejoined United after almost a decade playing in Holland and Greece. He injured his hamstring in pre-season training but a relieved United coach Gavin Hunt said Salmon would lead the attack alongside Katlego Mashego.
Mashego who has been on soccer trials in Israel and Sweden, is not 100% match fit. But said Hunt: ”I have no option. I reckon Mashego and Salmon will do the job.”
He also has the dangerous Ethiopian born Fikru Teferra to fall back on in attack.
Hunt said the prize money would not be in the player’s or his mind when they meet a new-look Bucs.
Said Hunt; ”The most important aspect is to concentrate on getting past Pirates and into the semifinals. There is still a way to go before we can start dreaming of the R8-million.”
But there was some bad news for Hunt. Two of his pre-season signings, midfielders Brent Carelse signed from Pretoria neighbours Mamelodi Sundowns and Zambian internationals ace Noah Chivuta, are non starters. Carelse has not recovered from a hamstring strain while Chivuta is waiting for his work permit to be issued.
Hunt, however, is quietly confident his squad that won the Absa Premiership will sink Bucs under new coach Ruud Krol.
Said Hunt: ”I always strive for consistency and that is what I will be looking for again this season. But the MTN 8 being a cup competition I am hoping that Salmon and Mashego click and get us into the semifinals.”
Krol is still finding his feet but collected his first trophy when Bucs lifted the Telkom Charity Cup by beating Chiefs 1-0 in the final played in Mmabatho.
Krol refused to get carried away with that triumph, saying he still had a lot of work to do at Pirates.
Said Krol: ”We are on the right track and I am happy with the progress we have made.”
Both coaches are viewing this game as an extension of their pre-season training. They both see the kick-off of the league at the end of the month as the big priority.
But they agreed that the R8-million was a massive incentive. Said Hunt: ”I would love to win that kind of money. What a way to start the season. But having said that, my programme is focused on the league which gets under way for us against Free State Stars on August 30.
Krol, who played 83 times for Holland goes into this match in the dark. He has been busy getting his team into shape for the new season and admitted he had not seen United in action.
”United will be a tough nut to crack, but we are not under pressure after winning the Charity Cup. This is a strange competition. It will be a new experience for me. It is the first time I compete as a player or coach in a cup that only pays the winner. But who is complaining, certainly not me if we win.”
Krol has a selection headache. He has the experience of Teko Modise as his playmaker and came up trumps when he played midfielder Thembile Kanono as a second striker against Chiefs in the Charity Cup final.
Kanono looked sharp and scored the only goal.
Under Krol, new midfield hard man Lebogang Mothibantwa has looked solid, as has Tlou Segolelo.
Chiefs entertain Santos at Loftus on Saturday night at 8pm in what could be a tricky night for Amakhosi. – Sapa