Hunt angry after Wits waste chance to go top

Bidvest Wits squandered a chance to regain the South African Premiership lead when they crashed 2-0 away to AmaZulu on Saturday and had captain Thulani Hlatshwayo redcarded.

A win for the Johannesburg club formed 98 years ago would have lifted them one point above Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns in a thrilling title race.

But after a goalless opening half, the visitors fell behind to a Bonginkosi Ntuli goal and Zimbabwean Ovidy Karuru added a second nine minutes from time.

Defender Hlatshwayo, who also skippers the national team, was dismissed after a second yellow card in Durban.

Wits coach Gavin Hunt, chasing a record fifth Premiership title as a coach, once again blamed his defence as the 2017 champions suffered a seventh loss in 23 matches.

“We also conceded a goal just after halftime last weekend,” he said, recalling a second-half collapse that ended with a 3-2 home defeat by Cape Town City.

“Our defence includes players with lots of national team experience and I expect better from them. We are conceding far too many soft goals.”

The result confirmed how unpredictable mid-table AmaZulu are – often mastering the best clubs in the league, only to struggle against those beneath them in the table.

Polokwane City and Kaizer Chiefs rose one place each to fifth and sixth respectively after home victories over lowerplaced opponents.

Goals from Ghanaian Mohamed Anas, who once went viral after thanking his wife and girlfriend in a TV interview, and Zimbabwean Charlton Mashumba gave City a 2-0 win over Golden Arrows.

Dumisani Zuma netted on 50 minutes in Soweto as Chiefs won 1-0 against Maritzburg United, who remain last, three points below Chippa United having played one match more. –