Wits’ Hunt slams fans’ ‘scum of the earth’ behaviour
BIDVEST WITS’ coach, Gavin
Hunt, slammed the acts of hooliganism that have resurfaced in the local game, describing the perpetrators as “lower than a scum of the earth”.
Kaizer Chiefs’ fans went on a rampage at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday after their 2-0 loss to Free State Stars throwing missiles, invading the pitch, burning some seats at the venue and destroying broadcasters’ equipment.
The most sickening scene from that incident was a group of Chiefs’ fans attacking a security guard who was on the ground.
They also destroyed property at the stadium, including broadcasters’ and photographers’ equipment, along with them starting brawls that led to several injuries – including to some children. More than a year after that incident, the PSL’s disciplinary committee finally punished Pirates by ordering them to play two home games behind closed doors.
But one of those matches was suspended for a period of two years.
The match that Pirates will play behind closed doors is against Wits tomorrow at Orlando Stadium.
“It will make a big difference,” Hunt said. “It’s not nice but people need to realise that (such acts aren’t welcome in our game) and people need to be disciplined. What happened in Durban was unacceptable. We went back to my time, the early ’80s. That poor woman who was kicked on her face (who has since been revealed to be a male, Sabela Maziba), the security guard was on the ground.
“The guy ran and kicked her on the face. That’s not a man (who did that), he is lower than a scum of the earth.
“What he did is unacceptable. You don’t kick people on the face while they’re on the ground. They’ve done nothing to them.”
Wits will look to use their match against Pirates to turn things around and finish the season strongly.
The reigning league champions are on a five-match winless run in the Absa Premiership and Caf Confederation Cup. They stole a point at the death against Polokwane
City at Bidvest Stadium on Sunday right after what Hunt called a “trip from hell” to Calabar which saw them eliminated by Nigerian giants Enyimba in the Confederation Cup play-offs. MAMELODI Sundowns are looking to wrap up the Absa Premiership as soon as tomorrow.
The Brazilians take on their Nedbank Cup semi-final conquerors Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium (7.30pm) knowing that victory will put them in line to securing a record eighth Premier Soccer League title.
Top of the table with 55 points from 27 matches, Pitso Mosimane’s team can only be stalled in their quest for glory by second-placed Orlando Pirates who host Bidvest Wits at an empty Orlando Stadium at the same time Sundowns take on the team of Choice.
The Buccaneers are six points behind having played the same number of matches.
While he has been speaking about the importance of wrapping up the title as soon as possible given the looming Champions League group stage matches, Mosimane is not putting his team under undue pressure.
“We must at least get a point, if we don’t win,” Mosimane said, clearly still smarting from the shock 3-1 loss to Maritzburg in the Cup.
“So we won’t be emotional, we’ve got three games from which to get six points.”
Yet such is his passion for success that Mosimane views tomorrow’s match as highly crucial.
“It is an important game for us, A very, very important game for us. We have to do whatever we have to do to win the game.”
Given what transpired at the weekend, it is clear that part of the ‘whatever’ that Sundowns have to do is avoid being complacent.
As outright favourites, Sundowns looked well on their way to a cruise into the final when Gaston Sirino put them ahead with the game a mere two minutes old. But they failed to build on that great start and a Sirino sending off saw the wheels come off, and they ended up suffering a humiliating 3-1 loss.
It is a defeat that has left Mosimane pointing to the fact that the league title is more valuable.
This despite him having previously made it clear that his team was chasing after every piece of silverware on offer. He has, however, vowed to strive for a clean sweep next time around,
“We’ll go for it again. It is not easy but we will try and wrap it (the league title). Ask Manchester City (the Champions of the English Premier League).
“Do you pick any of the FA Cup, Champions League or the league? You don’t. But these things happen in football. We wanted to go to the final but it did not happen and we must accept it.
“I think they (Maritzburg) need the final. Congratulations to them. They play different and they are awkward,” Mosimane added.
The need for Sundowns to win tomorrow is made all the more urgent by the fact that they face potential banana skins in their next two matches,
First up will be relegation-haunted Ajax Cape Town in Atteridgeville before they wrap the season with a trip to tricky Bloemfontein Celtic.
With Pirates breathing down their necks, Mosimane knows just how important it is to beat a Maritzburg side that could well be on honeymoon following the weekend victory that sees them in a cup final for the first time in their history.
He probably won’t admit it, but you can bet that the Sundowns coach is currently of the mindset that revenge is a dish best served piping hot, and not cold as the familiar saying goes.