Hunt’s adamant that Hlatshwayo will stay
Jonty Mark
Bidvest Wits head coach Gavin Hunt has insisted that club captain Thulani Hlatswhayo will be at the club next season, despite rumours linking him with a move to Orlando Pirates. Hlatshwayo this year extended his contract with the Clever Boys to 2022, and Hunt described suggestions he will leave as “all crap”.
“Every week Tyson is going here, going there, he is not leaving.”
The 28-year-old central defender did miss the start of Wits’ pre-season training this week, as he was on holiday, but Hunt said he was due back at Wits today.
The Clever Boys head coach added that goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo and midfielder Bantu Mzwakali have started training with the side, while they are also taking a look at former Baroka FC goalkeeper Virgil Vries.
“We are seeing we need another keeper,” said Hunt.
Hunt said Wits will not be looking to make extensive changes to their squad in the new season – “not really, just a few here and there.”
Wits are looking to strengthen their striking department, especially with James Keene and Eleazar Rodgers having left the club.
The Clever Boys will be looking to bounce back in the new campaign after an awful defence of their league title last season. Wits did win the Telkom Knockout, but were bottom of the league at Christmas and ended up only just surviving the drop.
“We need to improve, we had five brilliant years where we finished third (twice) second and first, so we need to get back.”
Hunt also spoke about losing central midfielder Ben Motshwari to Orlando Pirates, claiming Wits couldn’t possibly match the wages he was offered at the Buccaneers.
“We have a lot of players in that position, we have too many players in there, and you have three times the money (at Pirates) that you will get from us. So what can we do? We