Clever? Make that genius!
Bidvest Wits are officially the best team for the first time in their 96-year history, a 2-0 home win over Polokwane City last night enough to seal the Absa Premiership title.
Hope for a better showing in 2018 Champions League.
Bidvest Wits are officially the best team in the land for the first time ever, a 2-0 home win over Polokwane City last night enough to seal the Absa Premiership title.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ 2-2 home draw with Maritzburg United means the Clever Boys now have an unassailable four point lead at the top of the standings, with just one game left to play.
With Wits cruising to victory at Bidvest Stadium, as news filtered in of United’s second goal in Tshwane, the celebrations could truly begin, with the brass band, as usual, trumpeting Gavin Hunt’s side all the way to the final whistle.
For Hunt this was a fourth Premiership title, following on from three with SuperSport United between 2007 and 2010 – he now joins Gordon Igesund and Ted Dumitru with four gold medals.
There has been pressure on Hunt to win the title for Wits since he arrived in 2013, and finally he has led them over the line.
Usually a man with plenty to say, Hunt battled to keep his eyes dry and speak after his team claimed the R10 million first prize.
“A tremendous amount of hard work has finally paid off,” he said. “When I arrived here I did not believe the then squad was good enough to win the league.
“I began to overhaul it, but it takes time to build a league-winning squad and I am grateful for the patience and belief my bosses showed in me.
“This morning, Wits legends from years gone by phoned me and wished the team well. That was so encouraging for us – we knew we were not alone.
“Winning the title is a great achievement given that we suffered a lot of serious injuries during the season.
“We believe in and trust youth at Wits and those youngsters who came in to fill gaps did a magnificent job.”
Wits have struggled in African competitions and failed to make the group stages of the CAF Champions League or CAF Confederation Cup this year.
But Hunt said solitary-goal aggregate losses to Egyptian sides Al Ahly and Smouha offered hope of a better showing in the 2018 Champions League.
It was fitting, too that Daine Klate should set the seal on Wits’ win with a stunning finish just after the hour mark – this was his sixth Premiership title of an incredible career.