Wits skipper aims to cut out mistakes

Bidvest Wits skipper Thulani Hlatswayo (right) says they will be heading into tonight’s opening Absa Premiership clash with Cape Town City looking to cut out the defensive errors that saw them only scrape past Golden Arrows in the MTN8 quarterfinals.

The Clever Boys conceded two goals and had new central defender Slavko Damjanovic sent off in the first 25 minutes last Friday, but won 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra-time.

“You are as good as your last game, but we were not that good ... against Golden Arrows. We conceded early goals and that is something we have to rectify, even though we had a new guy Slavko. He was starting to play in the PSL and we told him that even though we have played friendly games with PSL teams during the off-season, the official games are totally different,” said the 27-year old Bafana Bafana defender.

Damjanovic is suspended for two games, so Bongani Khumalo will partner Hlatshwayo at the heart of the Wits defence tonight.

Hlatswayo adds that he knows what to expect from the Citizens, who play counter-attacking football – Benni McCarthy’s side are still without the injured Aubrey Ngoma, and are likely to be even more reliant on captain Lebogang Manyama, who scored the winner in this fixture last season.

McCarthy will not face up to his old mentor Gavin Hunt on the Wits touchline – Hunt is suspended for two games after being sent from the field during the win over Arrows. Wits assistant coach Paul Johnstone will handle the team.