A mountain to climb for Hunt
Bidvest Wits have it all to do to avoid another year of continental disappointment, as they face Enyimba tomorrow afternoon in the second leg of their Caf Confederation Cup play-off clash in Calabar.
The Clever Boys departed for Nigeria yesterday from OR Tambo International, with just a 1-1 draw to show for their efforts in the first leg at Bidvest Stadium around 10 days ago.
At the moment, Gavin Hunt’s side look to be following the same route they did out of Africa last year, where a defeat to Egyptian giants Al-Ahly in the Champions League play-offs was followed by a loss to Smouha of Egypt in the Confederation Cup play-offs.
Wits lost on penalties to Primeiro de Agosto of Angola in the Champions League play-offs this time around, and would need to pull off a fantastic result at the UJ Esuene Sports Stadium if they are to avoid also missing out on the Confederation Cup group stages for the second year in a row.
Enyimba striker Ibrahim Mustapha cancelled out Daine Klate’s early goal almost immediately in Johannesburg to give the Elephants a potentially crucial away goal to take to Calabar.
Since then, Enyimba have played just one league match, drawing 1-1 on April 11 at Kwara United, with midfiedler Ike Ibenegbu netting a penalty for the away side.
Wits have, in the meantime, slipped back in the race to finish in the top eight in the Absa Premiership, with defeats at Ajax Cape Town and, this weekend, at Mamelodi Sundowns.
Wits head coach Gavin Hunt (below) has also had his problems with player selection in this year’s Champions League, with the likes of striker James Keene and midfielder Cole Alexander not registered for the competition.
Thuso Phala has admitted to some mixed feelings about SuperSport United’s prospects of advancing to the Caf Confederation Cup group stages for a second year running. Matsatsantsa need to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Kenyan side Gor Mahia tomorrow night if they are to advance to the group phase.
While United have been impressive in Africa, having reached the final last season, the after-effects of their success came in the form of them going through a slump in the league – their Absa Premiership status remains under threat with three games to go.
“It is kind of a happy and sad situation because we want to do well in Caf but then our situation in the league is difficult,” said Phala (left).
“When we came back from Kenya we had to play Orlando Pirates in the league. But we are professional and we know we have to fight in the three games that are left, it is just that last fight to survive relegation.”
And Phala says his side are keen to reach the final again.
“There aren’t any regrets (about last year’s run to the final), it’s just a lesson learned and we must take positives that we made it to the final and we know it is possible to go there again and go on to win the tournament for the club and write our names in the history books,” Phala said.