‘Chiefs not losing form’
Hunt warns his players to be wary of consistent Amakhosi
GAVIN Hunt is not buying into the theory that Kaizer Chiefs are showing signs of slowly losing form, the Bidvest Wits coach warned ahead of his side’s Absa Premiership match against Amakhosi at Bidvest Stadium tonight.
Chiefs started the season with 13 league and cup wins in a row before their 1-1 home PSL draw against Moroka Swallows on October 22.
Since then Amakhosi have lost a Telkom Knockout semifinal on penalties to Platinum Stars and drawn league matches against Mamelodi Sundowns and Polokwane City, with just one PSL victory against AmaZulu.
Hunt, though, is not entertaining the idea – largely fuelled by Amakhosi starting well but grinding to a halt in both their previous seasons – that Chiefs might again be going off the boil.
“Not at all,” the Wits coach said yesterday, “They should have won 6-0 against Polokwane. I don’t think they’re losing form.”
Hunt believes Amakhosi, let down by poor finishing recently, remain the most consistent side in the PSL. He believes it will still take a momentous effort for any side, including his own third-placed Students, to catch Amakhosi, who have a nine-point lead over second-placed Ajax Cape Town.
Wits, 10 points behind, have struggled for their own consistency, though they did finally manage two wins in a row – 2- 0 at home to Free State Stars then 2-1 away against Mpumalanga Black Aces last Wednesday.
“Wemight be getting into a bit of a stride, but it’s the stride at the end of the season that will count,” Hunt said.
“Chiefs have been by far the best side, but that’s because they have had almost exactly the same team for the past three seasons. We made 16 changes from last season. It’s very difficult when you have changes each season to get the players together.
“We had a game last week, we’re playing this week and at least the players are getting to know each other a bit. But it takes time.”
Hunt had been struggling to find a consistent strike partnership, but has been assisted by veteran striker Chris Katongo finding his scoring boots.
The Zambia captain has scored four goals in three league games, plus one in the Telkom Knockout. Katongo has shown on his return to SA he might not quite have the pace he used to, but remains one of the most intelligent forwards to have graced the PSL.
Wits have defender Buhle Mkhwanazi suspended. “He was just starting to settle so it’s frustrating he’s not playing,” Hunt said. “Henrico Botes has been struggling a bit, so I don’t know if he’ll play.”
Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter not only has to guard against his players having their minds on Saturday’s Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium, he also has four players on three yellow cards who would pick up a suspension if booked tonight.
Baxter might have to decide to rest one or two of midfielders George Maluleka, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Willard Katsande and left-back Tsepo Masilela.
“Our focus is on the Wits game,” Katsande said. “We want to gain maximum points and just have to implement the coach’s game plan.”
Wits meet Bloemfontein Celtic at Free State Stadium on Sunday.