SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt is happy he can get back to business with the kick-off of the new season this weekend, but refused to be drawn on winning a record successive fourth Absa Premiership crown.
“I am glad to see the season start as I am tired of playing friendly matches and look forward to the new season,” said Hunt.
United, who have now won three back-to-back Premiership titles, travel to Ellis Park to play BidVest Wits, who are an unknown quantity this season, in the opening match of the defence of their title.
But Hunt is not going to try to predict whether he will become the first PSL coach to win a record four straight league title. “I don’t think about who will win the league or who will not. I take it one step and one game at a time.
“Looking into the future does not interest me in the least. My priority is getting off to a good start by getting a win in our first match of the new season.”
Hunt reckons the Students, under coach Roger de Sa, will prove to be a handful. “Wits always give us a hard time and I expect nothing less that a tough 90 minutes that will shake away any pre-season cobwebs.”
Hunt has an advantage over De Sa in that United have one competitive match under their belts. Last Saturday, United were beaten on penalties by Moroka Swallows in an MTN8 quarterfinal clash played at Dobsonville that ended 2-2 after extra time.
“We played well against Swallows and while we might be a little rusty, so will all the other sides. Playing a competitive match last weekend was a big help.”
De Sa admitted his Students face an examination of their potential. “I have promoted eight players from the development squad and brought in one or two others.
“We have looked fine in friendly matches but they are not a true test. The league is where I will be able to see where we are heading this season,” said De Sa, who will blood his new striker, Ryan Chapman, signed from Santos.
Hunt is hoping to get his Angolan striker, Jose Ferreira, a work permit in time so he can make his PSL debut. “I, like most other teams, am experiencing problems getting work permits. Ferreira is a top-class player and I hope to use him on Saturday.”
Hunt will also have his captain and Bafana Bafana defender, Bongani Khumalo, back from a trial with English Premiership outfit Tottenham Hotspur.
Khumalo played in a friendly game against Leicester City on Wednesday night and arrived back in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Hunt is likely to hand Premiership debuts to former Bafana defender Bradley Carnell and new striker Kermit Erasmus. Erasmus (20) spent the past two years in The Netherlands and has plenty of potential, according to Hunt.
Double-header
The season kicks off with a double-header at the new Cape Town Stadium on Friday. Newly promoted Vasco da Gama could not have asked for a tougher baptism — they face against Orlando Pirates at 6pm. This is followed at 8.45pm by the clash between Ajax Cape Town and Bloemfontein Celtic.
Vasco have signed a number of experienced players, such as Sibusiso Zuma — who failed at Mamelodi Sundowns last season — and the former Bafana skipper must view Vasco as his last chance at redemption.
By staging a double-header the PSL are trying to continue from the success of the World Cup and attract fans to the local game.
Kaizer Chiefs, who are one of the contenders for the title this season, begin their campaign with a clash at the Rand Stadium against Golden Arrows on Saturday night (8.15pm).
Arrows have a new coach in Zoran Filipovic of Montenegro and have lost star striker Richard Henyekane to Sundowns.
Downs host Swallows at the Super Stadium, also at 8.15pm.
In Saturday’s other fixture Free State Stars host Santos at the Botshabelo Stadium at 3pm.
Two matches will be played on Sunday. At the Puma Stadium in Witbank, Mpumalanga Black Aces host Platinum Stars and at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, AmaZulu face Maritzburg United in a KwaZulu-Natal derby.
Both matches kick-off at 3pm. — Sapa