Wits pip Supersport as Bucs struggle continues

BIDVEST Wits earned an intelligent, gritty and highly entertaining 1-0 Absa Premiership victory over SuperSport United at Bidvest Stadium last night.

A match of high tactical and technical quality between two PSL title contenders was played at pace by an array of some of the PSL’s best talent.

All this happened against the backdrop of a game of backgammon between two master titlewinning coaches, Gavin Hunt of Wits and SuperSport’s Gordon Igesund, who have seven championships between them.

Jabulani Shongwe opened the scoring for Wits in the 40th minute. Adding to the intrigue of the way the game was played tactically, the Clever Boys had Henrico Botes sent off a minute into first-half injury time.

SuperSport came into the game in eighth place on five points, and Wits were in second on nine. The Clever Boys have been the more settled combination of these two sides over the past two seasons under Hunt, and at times it showed.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers are still without a victory since August 22 after a goalless draw with Polokwane City last night.

Pressure is piling on coach Eric Tinkler, who desperately needs a win to restore the confidence lacking from both the players and supporters.

After their 1-1 draw with Mpumalanga Black Aces — on the same week they were hammered 4-1 by Zamalek in Cairo – Pirates were yesterday determined to improve on their poor performances of late.

Tinkler, as usual, made changes to the team that failed to win at home against Aces, bringing in Kermit Erasmus for Lehlohonolo Majoro and former City player Roger Majava for Menzi Masuku with the hope that they would give impetus.