Phakaaathi.co.za Posers for Johnson, Hunt
CHANGES: BAN, INJURIES FORCE HAND
Coaches to keep a cool head as they ponder next strategy.
Coaches Cavin Johnson and Gavin Hunt are both set to make changes for tomorrow night’s Absa Premiership clash at the King Zwelithini Stadium.
Bidvest Wits saw Nazeer Allie sent off for a second bookable offence in his first game of the 2017/2018 campaign, the 1-1 draw with Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, while the home side could make changes due to injuries they incurred in a 4-1 thumping by neighbours Golden Arrows on Sunday at the Princes Magogo Stadium.
“There will be a few forced changes because of injuries from the game on Sunday, and we are not sure who will be available. The medical team is still assessing the players. It’s early in the season and right now it is about recovery, so that the players can be as fit as they can be,” said Johnson.
He added that he does not gain any extra hope from Wits’ continued slump in form in their draw at Amakhosi.
“The way they played against Chiefs doesn’t boost my confidence, it shouldn’t do anything because we lost our last game against Arrows. They are the PSL champions, it is going to be a difficult game. We need to take the positives out of the game we lost because the score doesn’t show the true story of how we played,” said Johnson.
Hunt isn’t stressing too much about his team not winning in the four league games they have played as he believes his team’s hard work will play off in due time. The four-time league title-winning coach refuses to single out a player to make a difference in tomorrow’s match.
Hunt has not fallen into the trap of underestimating Usuthu because of their recent result or banking on his speedy forward Gabadinho Mhango to beat AmaZulu’s defence for pace, after they had Arrows’ Nduduzo Sibiya, Knox Mutizwa and Kudakwashe Mahachi running circles around them on Sunday.
“We have been playing well. We are confident, and any game has its own circumstances, so we are looking forward to the next game. There is no banking on anyone, anyone can score, and hopefully we can get a good result. The game plan is to approach the game like we normally do, we mustn’t think they are easy.
“They (AmaZulu) were alright until the last two minutes of the game. We have to change the team again (because of the red card) and it happens every game, it’s one of those things and we need to make a plan,” said Hunt.
The game plan is to approach the game like we normally do.