Remaining games ‘all like cup finals’

Michaelson Gumede

Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt has vowed to approach their remaining league games as cup finals, as the Absa Premiership title race intensifies.

The Clever Boys, who are very much in the running for the league this season, host a Golden Arrows side that need no motivation after they dumped African champions Mamelodi Sundowns out of the Nedbank Cup on Saturday, and are in search of a third consecutive win in all competitions.

“Every game is a big game now, it is going to make a change in the league position, we need to approach it the best way we can. Everybody needs the points at this stage for whatever reason,” Hunt said ahead of their clash at the Bidvest Stadium tonight.

He continued: “It will be a tight game, they are a good side, they have done very well but we are in the position we are in and we need to finish the season strongly and make sure we are there right at the end.”

Hunt will hope to welcome back his captain Thulani Hlatshwayo (below) for this game, after he missed the Nedbank Cup exit at the hands of Jomo Cosmos, and the disappointing home draw with Smouha on Saturday in the Caf Confederation Cup. Hlatshwayo was yesterday named as the Absa Premiership Player-of-theMonth for March.

“I think we are a much better team this season. We are going to push for the league,” said Hlatshwayo yesterday.

Arrows coach Clinton Larsen, meanwhile, will be relying on his youngsters to see them through to a top eight finish and to continue their challenge for the Nedbank Cup. One youngster Larsen is full of praise for is 21-year-old Nduduzo Sibiya, whose strike landed the knockout blow on Sundowns.

“He came through the MultiChoice Diski Challenge, he has been there since he was 13, and so have quite a few of the youngsters,” said Larsen.