Wits scraping the barrel

Gavin Hunt has bemoaned a lengthy Bidvest Wits injury list ahead of Saturday’s Telkom Knockout last 16 home clash with Free State Stars, with the Clever Boys heading into the game with just one fit goalkeeper.

Moeneeb Josephs was already out injured, and Kyle Peters picked up a finger problem in the 1-0 league win at Baroka FC last weekend, meaning, Darren Keet (below) is now the only available goalkeeper, and he has only just got back from a knee injury.

“He (Keet) is going to have to play, he has only been back training with us for a week,” said Hunt yesterday. He added that Wits may have to look at registering one of their development keepers as a back-up to Keet.

Elsewhere, captain Thulani Hlatshwayo is suspended for Saturday’s game, while Buhle Mkhwanazi is a long-term injury casualty and Hunt added that Thabang Monare, Ben Motswhari, Vincent Pule, Daylon Claasen, Amr Gamal and Eleazar Rodgers are all also set to miss out.

Steven Pienaar could, however, return from injury for the game. “Hopefully he can come back this weekend,” said Hunt.

The Wits coach was pleased to beat league leaders Baroka on Saturday, a win that was only Wits’ second in the league this season, the Clever Boys having made a dreadful start to the defence of their title. But he was in no mood to say had turned any corner with the Baroka result.

“I don’t believe in turning corners … we just take it one game at a time and go from there,” he added.

Stars and Wits drew 2-2 in a league match at Goble Park in August, with Ea Lla Koto equalising with a last minute penalty from Siphelele Mthembu. That was Sammy Troughton’s last game in charge at Stars, with Luc Eymael taking over, but Hunt does not expect that much difference on Saturday.

“They run hard, they work hard ... I don’t think anything has changed from one coach to the next,” he said.