Confederation Cup is clearly on Hunt radar

Gavin Hunt (above) has said Bidvest Wits definitely want to go through to the group stages of the Caf Confederation Cup, with the Clever Boys taking on UD Songo of Mozambique away from home on Sunday in the first leg of their final qualifying play-off.

Wits had previously said this season that the financial cost of playing in the Confederation Cup meant it could not be their priority, and the Clever Boys have had to deal with constant criticism in the last few seasons of not taking continental competition seriously enough.

“We have always been competitive,” said Hunt, however.

“We want to go to the groups, there are two games to get to the groups, so we want to go through.”

Wits were a little unfortunate to be knocked out of the Telkom Knockout on Friday evening, with even Maritzburg United coach Eric Tinkler admitting Wits were the better side, though the Team of Choice ended up winning via a penalty shoot-out.

The match finished 1-1 after extra time, with Wits taking a second-half lead through Terrence Dzvukumanja, only for Thabiso Kutumela to level from the penalty spot almost immediately, though it was a debatable decision to award a handball against Zitha Macheke, who had tried to get his arms out of the way of Deolin Mekoa’s cross.

“We played well, we had the game, but you have all those opportunities and don’t take them,” added Hunt, in reference to other chances Wits wasted at the Harry Gwala Stadium.

“Was their penalty a penalty? I don’t know, we should have had a penalty, but these things happen in football. We dominated and controlled the game but you have to score.”

We want to go to the groups, there are two games to get to the groups, so we want to go through