Hunt hopes Wits ride their luck
CUP CLASH: STUDENTS TRAILED BEFORE TIE CALLED OFF
Second chance for the Clever Boys after big washout.
Bidvest Wits have reason to both rue their luck and consider themselves extremely fortunate that their Nedbank Cup last-16 game against Black Leopards has been moved to this evening at Thohoyandou Stadium (kick-off 6pm).
The Clever Boys have had to make a second trip to the Limpopo province in under a week, after last Wednesday’s game against Leopards was abandoned as rain of biblical proportions flooded the Thohoyandou pitch.
This is not exactly ideal preparation for Saturday’s Absa Premiership title-chasing showdown against Mamelodi Sundowns at Bidvest Stadium – originally Gavin Hunt’s team were due to have 10 days simply to focus on the big clash against Masandawana.
And yet Wits can consider themselves a little fortunate to still be in the Nedbank Cup, as the abandonment of Wednesday’s game against Leopards came with them trailing 1-0 to Lidoda Duvha, and struggling to get a foothold in the match.
Under Premier Soccer League rules, any game that is abandoned because of natural causes like the weather is then replayed from scratch, with both teams able to also make any changes to their squads that they wish to do.
So it remains to be seen if Hunt hands a second debut, if you like, to young attacker Molahleli Khunyedi, and sticks with Ricardo Goss in the Clever Boys’ goal, or if Leopards coach Dylan Kerr again hands Robert N’Gambi and Thokozani Sekotlong their first starts in a Leopards shirt after two appearances each from the bench thus far.
Wits, meanwhile, are also playing a day before Sundowns host Polokwane City in the Absa Premiership, albeit that Pitso Mosimane’s men are at home, while Wits will still have to make the long trip back from Thohoyandou after their match.
Given that Sundowns have clocked up too many miles to mention in the Caf Champions League this season, it would, in truth, be slightly ridiculous if anyone at Wits were to complain about tiredness ahead of the meeting with the Brazilians.