FREE State Stars coach Sammy Troughton and his lads will face a cane-wielding, red-eyed Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt following the Clever Boys’ terrible start to the new season.
Tomorrow is Wits’ chance to redeem themselves and prove that their 2016-17 PSL title which earned them a mouth-watering R10 million was no fluke, but a deserved accolade.
Hunt must be wielding the cane in his changing-room and will be demanding that his Students to learn fast and pass the Ea Lla Koto test at Goble Park tomorrow (7.30pm).
Memories of Wits’ 1-0 loss to Cape Town City in their opening league match, the shocking and bloodied 4-2 penalties win over Golden Arrows after a 2-2 draw following 120 minutes of brutal action and being forced to sit in the stands, must be playing tricks on Hunt’s mind.
But what better way to jump back into winning form, considering the coach will be back on the bench shouting instructions.
The good news is that Wits are back in the hot seat this weekend as the MTN8 semifinals take centre stage when they AGAIN face Benni McCarthy’s Citizens at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday.
SuperSport United kick off the semifinals on Saturday against Fadlu Davids’ Maritzburg United at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
But Wits will not find it easy against FS Stars tomorrow, as former Kaizer Chiefs marksman Siphelele Mthembu is eager to revive his fading career with Ea Lla Koto, where he has signed a one-year contract, making his debut for them in their 1-0 loss to AmaZulu.
He said he could not wait to start banging in the type of goals that caught the eye of Chiefs and Bafana Bafana coaches when he was still at Platinum Stars almost four years ago.
Said Mthembu: “For now I’m working on getting my fitness back. I want to bring out that beast in me and score at least 15 goals this season.”
The striker from Melmoth, northern KwaZulu-Natal, said the tough times he experienced at Chiefs had only made him stronger.
– ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY
MENZI MAGUBANE
