It’s frustrating taking on Hunt regularly, says Benni

BENNI McCarthy put up a convincing act at appearing shaken by the draw against Gavin Hunt and his Bidvest Wits team again – this time in the Nedbank Cup.

Cape Town City’s rookie Premier Soccer League coach McCarthy’s first season started like a wild fire‚ reaching the MTN8 final at the expense of defending league champions Wits.

Cape Town City beat Wits in both semifinal legs – and beat the Clever Boys in the Absa Premiership at the Bidvest Stadium in Johannesburg two weeks before.

Three wins in 25 days (two away and one at home) by the team coached by the “student” against Hunt – a four-time league-winning coach, who gave McCarthy his playing debut at Seven Stars in 1995 – did not sit well with the “master”.

Especially not since those results played a role in Wits’ astonishing self-implosion this season‚ from which they are only just showing signs of recovering – even though they are in second-last place in the league.

After the Nedbank last-32 draw on Monday night in Sandton, McCarthy ruefully said: “I came hoping for a really tough‚ but nice‚ opposition.

“You know‚ NFD [National First Division team]‚ or maybe something at home. And then I get the shark. But what can you do? “That’s football for you. “But I think the boys aren’t going to need much motivation – because, when you play the league champions, who needs motivation.

“I think we’ve proven it at the beginning of the season, when I was probably the most scared I’ve ever been facing the coach that launched my career as a player.

“Facing Huntie, I think we handled it pretty well – and that gave me a bit of confidence.

“Now we have to just must make sure that we go into this encounter well prepared.

“We know what we have to do to get a result against Wits. And that’s what we have to do.

“We’re going to grind it out. We’re going to go back to the drawing board so that when the time comes, we are ready for Wits like we were in the MTN8 and the league,” McCarthy said.

“Just getting them in the Nedbank again‚ and a week later in the league, it’s a bit frustrating.”

Cape Town City will meet Wits in the Nedbank Cup between February 8 and 14.

They play the Clever Boys a fifth time this season, on February 24.

Asked if perhaps his three wins so far indicate McCarthy might have Hunt’s number‚ Cape Town City’s coach replied: “No – the past is the past.

“It’s a fantastic memory to have – but now those boys [Wits] will be psyched up.

“And Gavin’s made a few changes, so they’ve looked better. They look stronger.” – TimesLIVE