Three wins the target as Wits play catch-up

Jonty Mark

Bidvest Wits are looking at winning their remaining Absa Premiership games before Christmas, as they bid to climb off the bottom of the Absa Premiership.

The Clever Boys beat Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 on Saturday to lift the Telkom Knockout, a third trophy in two seasons. Wits’ defence of their league title, however, has been abysmal up to now, and midfielder Ben Motshwari (left) is well aware of the tough task ahead.

Wits have three games to play before the break, starting with a home game tomorrow evening against fellow-strugglers Cape Town.

“It is about getting maximum points, it is not the time for us to drop more points,” said Motshwari, who is at a bit of a loss to explain Wits’ poor league form.

“It just happens like that, we don’t like what is happening, we are working on it and just have to get on with it. It shows this league is not easy this season, for us being at the bottom is an eye-opener and we have to redouble our efforts. Just because we were champions last season doesn’t mean we can slack off now.”

Motshwari came off the bench against Celtic on Saturday after Ajax three weeks out with a torn muscle, as Wits’ squad begins to return to full strength after an abundance of knocks during the 2017/18 campaign, that have not helped their cause.

It is no coincidence that Wits have now kept two clean sheets in a row following the return to fitness of their regular back four, with Nazeer Allie, Thulani Hlatshwayo and Buhle Mkhwanazi all now alongside leftback Sifiso Hlanti.

“Obviously it is good, last season we did well from beginning to end, so to have those players back on the field of play gives us something,” said Hlanti.