Wits hoping to break their Free State losing streak
past two seasons in the league, beacuse the Soweto giant lack a dominant strike force that can send shivers down the spines of opposition defenders. Parker and Gustavo Paez have shown glimpses of what they can do with their good understanding and an ability to feed off each other. The pair will look to trouble SuperSport United tonight at FNB Stadium in Chiefs’ quest for their first win of the campaign.
“I’ve matured a lot in my game in terms of seeing things,” Parker said. “I see a lot of things in the final third. If someone is in a better position, I pass for him to score. In the (Soweto) Derby I created (Joseph) Molangoane’s goal. I played the ball to Paez who was in a better position in the Carling Black Label Cup. If I have the opportunity to take the chance, then I will. The weight is on us who are up front to come up with the goals and for Shabba (Siphiwe Tshabalala) to also score.”
Parker continued, “We need to share the responsibility upfront and lead by example in terms of being selfless in the last third by making sure that the ball hits the back of the net and it doesn’t matter who scores. I and Paez, we do a lot. We keep defenders on the back foot. We just need the wingers to quickly join the attack because when Paez goes wide I enter the box and vice-versa.”
The pair did that well in the win over Orlando Pirates in a pre-season friendly. Amakhosi didn’t have a traditional centre-forward, with Parker and Paez swapping and fulfilling that role, keeping the Buccaneers’ defence busy as the two have different skills set. The 31-year-old Parker plays with more intelligent, creating space with his composure inside the box while the Venezuela-born Paez uses his explosive pace and intelligent runs to beat defenders.
While they are trying to master this art, SuperSport have perfected it with the deadliest attacking trio in the country that consists of Thabo Mnyamane, Bradley Grobler and Jeremy Brockie.
“Our combination up front is looking better,” Parker said. “We are gelling well together. If we can get Shabba back to his best, I think we would have more power. People say we need to be calm inside the box. But you are calm and they close you down. They say we need to be sharper. You do that, then you rush your decision.
“We need to find the right balance between being composed and sharp inside the box. That balance will come automatically if we are confident, believe in ourselves and the spirit is there.
“Maybe we need to bring 10 percent more in our compactness, add 10 percent to discipline in our defence and be more ruthless in our attack.
“I have a belief that at this rate, things will come our way and we will turn things around.” JOHANNESBURG: AMR Gamal, the new Bidvest Wits signing from top Egyptian side Al-Ahly, will witness the physical side of South African football when the Clever Boys travel to plucky Free State Stars today looking for their first win in their Absa Premiership title defence.
Although Gamal, who arrives on loan for a season with an option for Wits to buy him outright at the end of it, will not feature as he is still awaiting his international transfer certificate before he can get stuck in, it’s likely that he will watch what coach Gavin Hunt expects to be a “real fight down there” when Wits take on their bogey side.
Hunt’s men have only been on the winning side against Stars once in five years at the Goble Park Stadium in Bethlehem, finding it increasingly difficult to beat them in their own backyard as evidenced yet again by the 3-1 defeat suffered there in the final weeks of the previous season, a result which almost derailed Wits’ championship hopes.
“I think everybody knows as well as I do that it’s not really a football match there,” said Hunt yesterday.
“It’s a real fight down there, and all credit to them. But we have got to match that.
“If we match that, with our ability we will have a better chance. I am not saying we haven’t gone down there and had a fight, but we have been a little bit unfortunate sometimes, as it doesn’t bounce for you here and there.
“The last season they beat us, but we beat them by about 20 to 25 points over the course of 30 (league) games. We have to make sure we do what we have got to do.
“And every time we have gone to play them there it’s been at the back end of the season. This one is early, but I don’t think it makes a difference because they will still be up for us.”
Hunt will still be serving his suspension following his red card from the dugout in the ill-tempered MTN8 quarterfinal clash at home against Golden Arrows, which the Clever Boys won 4-3 on penalties.
The game had ended 2-2 after extra-time.
“It’s not easy,” said the coach, who anxiously watched from the stands when Wits lost 1-0 to Cape Town City at the Bidvest Stadium last Friday in their Premier League opener.
“Everything has been relayed to Paul (Johnstone, the assistant coach), but there are certain situations where you see something and you want to make a change.
“But we should have enough experience in our squad to play out the game situation as best as we can. It is difficult to discus a shape change when you see one.
“Maybe it’s a good thing I am not on the bench at Goble Park, something different to change our luck.”