A team built by the hunt
HE FAIRYTALE approach to winning a league title, like Leicester City, or as Cape Town City so nearly achieved, is the exception to the rule. More often than not, the essential ingredient to championship success is a gradual process based on a long-term vision.
Bidvest Wits decided a few years ago that, cocooned in a developmental environment, they weren’t making sufficient progress as a club. So they ditched that model, and embarked on a journey to elevate the organisation into a title-challenging and, eventually, title-winning outfit.
To do this, there was only one man to turn to – Gavin Hunt, who had so successfully turned around every club he worked at (Seven Stars, Black Leopards, Moroka Swallows and SuperSport United, with whom he won three successive titles).
When Hunt arrived at Wits in 2013, he quickly set about putting his vision in place and imprinting his work ethic upon the players
Tunder his care.
Year after year the squad got strengthened as Hunt slowly brought in the players he believed would soon take the club to its maiden Premiership title. The Clever Boys’ squad was dismantled, re-built and revamped to Hunt’s vision.
In addition, as Hunt had learned from his mentor – former Hellenic coach Budgie Byrne – he infused the squad with an indomitable spirit, he improved the shape and structure and, importantly, he got them to play for him.
All the hard work, commitment and planning came to fruition as Wits defeated Polokwane City 2-0 to be crowned league champions with one game still to play.
It was a victory for plain, old-fashioned hard work and industry, a sound but humble approach, and just reward for every single individual attached to the club.
So let’s have a look at this championship-winning team that Hunt built:
All three are Capetonian – Moeneeb Josephs, Darren Keet and Kyle Peters. It was immediately evident to Hunt that Josephs needed someone to push him, especially as the Mitchell’s Plain-born keeper is now 37 years old. When Keet decided to return from Europe – where he had been playing for KV Kortrijk – Hunt was quick to snap up the keeper from Bothasig.
The two have been solid and reliable and both played quite a few games throughout the season. The important thing was that Josephs and Keet kept each other on their toes, with the result that Hunt was able to draw consistent performances from his number one jersey.
If there’s a player who epitomises the fighting spirit at the heart of the Clever Boys’ title triumph, it’s the captain Thulani Hlatshwayo,
He’s not called “Tyson” for nothing – in short, he’s the type of footballer you can go to war with. Along with Hlatshwayo’s combative instinct, Wits were also able to call on the calm, composed experience of Bongani Khumalo and Nazeer Allie, the youthful enthusiasm of Sifiso Hlanti and that wonderful teenager Reeve Frosler, and, importantly, the most outstanding central defender in the PSL this season, Buhle Mkhwanazi.
It’s here, however, where Wits’ strength came through. In central midfield, the men tasked with shielding the defence, shutting out the opposition and holding everything together, Hunt had assembled a fine array of talent.