SuperSport misfire as Wits win season opener

THE goalposts were clearly not big enough for SuperSport United striker Bradley Grobler, who again left his scoring boots at home for last night’s clash between potential Absa Premiership title contenders. And Matsatsantsa were punished by Bidvest Wits, who were never a threat away from home until a 69th minute penalty, which S’thembiso Ngcobo converted.

SuperSport’s failure to score was not from a lack of trying, as they started slowly but gained momentum, forcing Wits into their own half for much of this encounter. However, Grobler failed to be decisive and accurate when through on goal.

His and SuperSport’s best opportunity came in the 49th minute when he was set-up by Lebogang Manyama, but Grobler couldn’t hit the target with goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane nowhere in sight.

Grobler’s other chance to break the deadlock came in the 12th minute, a strike that was blocked after the forward hesitated. Coaches easily lose their jobs following a string of bad results, but there was nothing Cavin Johnson, the man who admitted on Wednesday to being given an ultimatum by SuperSport chairman Khulu Sibiya, could do about Grobler’s horrific miss.

Wits were then aided by a clumsy challenge from Michael Morton on the Clever Boys’ captain Sibusiso Vilakazi on the hour mark, and striker Ngcobo showed Grobler how to score.

The two sides were clearly still rusty in their Premier League opener. Both clubs were in action in last week’s MTN8 quarterfinals – SuperSport being booted out by Orlando Pirates and Wits scraping through on penalties against Bloemfontein Celtic. Johnson would argue this game could have long been dead and buried if Thuso Phala’s pace and Thato Mokeke’s accurate passes were used to good effect.

Grobler seems an automatic choice upfront because he is the club’s only senior striker following Mame Niang’s departure, Dino Ndlovu’s bulging belly and young Thabani Mthembu still settling into new surroundings. Even when Benett Chenene came off the bench, his tame attempt at goal was easy pickings for Mabokgwane.