Resurgent Wits pull away from drop zone
Bidvest Wits continue to surge up the Absa Premiership table, and the question now has to be how high Gavin Hunt’s side might just manage to finish when the campaign is done and dusted.
The situation looked bleak for the Clever Boys at Christmas, as a dismal defence of their league title saw them bottom of the table heading into the New Year. A 2-1 victory at Cape Town City on Saturday, however, Hunt’s first over Benni McCarthy in five attempts in all competitions this season, lifted Wits even further away from the relegation zone.
In fact, Wits are now almost as close to Sundowns at the top of the table (12 points behind) as they are to Platinum Stars at the bottom (11 points ahead), and while chasing down Masandawana is unrealistic with only eight games left to play, sealing a spot in the top three suddenly looks a possibility for the Clever Boys.
Wits have won five and drawn two of their last seven games, with Hunt’s only regret probably that a run of form like this did not come a bit earlier in the season. The win over City was particularly sweet as it came after losses to McCarthy’s men in the MTN8 semifinals, the first round of the league, and the Nedbank Cup last-32.
It was sealed by two goals from striker Lehlohonolo Majoro (right), a player released from his contract early by City to join Wits in the January transfer window.
The 31-year-old scored in the second half either side of a strike for City from Craig Martin, and now has four league goals in his last three appearances for Wits, answering the call from Hunt with his side missing so many opportunities.
The win at City completed a fine week away from home for Wits, as they won 2-1 at Golden Arrows the previous weekend, and then managed to get through to the next round of the Caf Champions League in midweek, even though they lost 1-0 to Pamplemousses SC in Mauritius.
Wits’ next task is a home league match against Baroka FC on Saturday, a side going the other way down the table, and one that the Clever Boys can leapfrog with a victory.