Hunt: away matches keep the pressure off
Jonty Mark
Gavin Hunt (right) believes Bidvest Wits might just benefit from being on the road this Sunday as they take on Baroka FC in the semifinals of the Telkom Knockout at Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The Clever Boys have made an excellent start to the 2018/19 season, sitting second in the Absa Premiership and making the last four of a competition they won last year.
Their success, however, has been largely built on their away form, with Wits unbeaten in all competitions away from Bidvest Stadium while they have lost three league games on their own patch, most recently losing 2-1 to Bloemfontein Celtic.
“We are a better away side this year, there are a few things we have done differently,” said Hunt yesterday.
“At home we tend to be a bit anxious and go for it, and we get caught like we did last week (against Celtic). Right now our form at home is not good, so maybe away it will be better. It will be a nice pitch, but if we have heat like we have had the game will be at a bit of a walking pace.”
The Wits coach is wary of a Baroka side that have found some form of late, winning their last two games, including a stunning victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the TKO quarterfinals.
“They (Baroka) have had a bit of a turn in fortunes, they have had two good results in their last two games. They are not going to win the league, so this is their real chance to win a trophy and I am sure the effort and desire will be there.”
“We have to match that, we have had players away (with Bafana Bafana). That is always a problem because you don’t know what you will get back, and they are playing tonight (Bafana played Paraguay last night in the Nelson Mandela Challenge) … Thursday will be a downtime day, so we will have one day of preparation … but it is what it is, the players should know what is required.”
Hunt will have to make a change to his regular back four on Sunday, with Robyn Johannes suspended after being sent off against Celtic, so Thulani Hlatshwayo will likely move to partner Buhle Mkhwanazi in the heart of the Clever Boys defence.
“Losing Robyn is a big blow, he has been our best player this season, and I think he has been the best player in South Africa …. but these two (Hlatshwayo and Mkhwanazi) are the two Bafana Bafana centrebacks,” added Hunt.