Wits make bid for top spot
BIG CLASH: GAVIN HUNT’S MEN HAVE TO OVERCOME A LITANY OF INJURIES
African defeat has made side determined to land silverware.
Absa Premiership title contenders Bidvest Wits and Cape Town City lock horns at the Cape Town Stadium tomorrow in a clash which will see Wits go top if they win.
City are the leaders, level on points with Kaizer Chiefs, and one clear of Wits, though Gavin Hunt’s Clever Boys have two games in hand on Eric Tinkler’s men, and three in hand on Amakhosi.
It has been a busy season for Hunt’s men, who on Saturday were in Alexandria, where they were knocked out of the Caf Confederation Cup after losing 1-0 to Egyptian team Smouha at the Borg el-Arab Stadium.
Midfielder Ben Motshwari says they are disappointed to have been eliminated from the continental competition, but need to keep their heads up and focus on tomorrow’s crucial match.
“We didn’t want to get out at this stage of the tournament, we really wanted to do well but it happened that we lost the game and got eliminated, it is part of football and we have learned a lot from this experience,” said the midfielder.
“This is an important game for us, we have to go out there and grind out a result. We are playing a very good team who have a number of quality players in their squad, but we also have the players who can do the job, so it is going to be quite a good game.”
Wits will head into this clash rocked by injuries to some of their key players. Midfielders Grandwald Scott, Thabang Monare and Xola Mlambo are battling with muscle injuries, as are winger Daine Klate and striker James Keene.
“Injuries are part of football, but it is not ideal to get so many injuries at this stage of the league. Every team needs to have all their players in their squad. We just have to soldier on and fight to get maximum points on the day,” added Motshwari.
Meanwhile, City’s winger Thabo Nodada, who had been out of action for some time due to an ankle injury he sustained during pre-season, has returned and gave a fine performance at Platinum Stars last Thursday, which saw him being named Man-of-the-Match in a 4-2 win.
The winger says he is looking forward to making up for lost time while in the stands and the clash against Wits is vital for the Cape side to win, but it won’t be easy.
“It feels great to be back, I was really excited to get the Man-ofthe-Match award,” said Nodada.