/ 17 August 2010

‘SuperSport are the team to beat’

SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt has set his players a target of 58 points to win the Absa Premiership title for a record fourth time.

Speaking at the launch of the 2010/11 season at the Cradle of Humankind in Maropeng on Monday night, Hunt said he expected this season to be even more competitive than the previous one. His side have now lifted the title three times in succession to win the trophy outright.

Hunt, whose side won the 2009/10 title with 57 points, said that the league could be won this season with even fewer points: “It is wide open. Any side can beat any side on a given day. It is going to be a tight and closely fought season. But maybe 57 points or even less could win it this time.”

Hunt said he is still looking for a quality defender to replace his captain, Bongani Khumalo, if the Bafana Bafana central defender’s move to either Tottenham Hotspur or Glasgow Rangers comes off.

Hunt said: “I do not have much time but it looks like Khumalo might leave. But nothing has been confirmed.”

United open the defence of their title against BidVest Wits at Milpark on August 28.

Hunt said he also expected the Bafana players who featured in the three-month-long Bafana training camps ahead of the World Cup in June to feel the effect.

Hunt explained: “To me, the long Bafana camps, while achieving their objectives, were stupid as it is going to take players a long time to recover, both physically and mentally.”

A new super trophy of pure silver — weighing 7kg and looking like the European Champions League trophy — was also unveiled on Monday.

Premier Soccer League CEO Kjetil Siem said: “SuperSport United by virtue of winning the old trophy three times in succession now get to keep that trophy.”

‘Last season was a crazy one’
Although no team has won the league four times in a row, leading coaches such as Ruud Krol of Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns’ new coach, Antonio Lopez Habas, see SuperSport as the team to beat.

Krol said: “Last season was a crazy one due to having to finish the league in March in order to allow Bafana more time to prepare for the World Cup finals. SuperSport will pose a challenge once again. But Pirates will be contenders. We had plenty of injuries late in the season that derailed our title hopes. Hopefully we will have better fortune this season. Our goal is to win the Premiership this season.”

Krol is looking for a quality defender as cover for the injured Lucas Thwala and Rooi Mahamutsa.

The former Dutch skipper added: “Thwala has a long-term injury and we need a replacement. I would also love to sign a striker who will score 30 goals and a midfielder who can net me 12 goals. I am looking but I do not see those type of players being available. But we still have 10 days before the transfer window closes.”

Habas, who replaced temperamental Bulgarian coach Hristo Stoitchkov, is confident of doing well in his first season in charge. The Spaniard said he felt under no pressure.

Habas said: “SuperSport are the obvious team to beat for the title, while I reckon both Pirates and Chiefs, and maybe Santos, will also be up there challenging for the title. But I believe that Sundowns will have a good season and compete for the league.”

Backing Downs’ pedigree as potential champions are new signings in the form of ace striker Richard Henyekane from Golden Arrows, talented South Africa under-20 star Sibusiso Khumalo and Thapelo Tshilo from relegated Jomo Cosmos.

Siem said that the prize money would remain the same, with the winners collecting R10-million, and each team finishing in the top eight becoming millionaires. The team ending last in the 16-team Premiership will receive R400 000. — Sapa