SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt insists they were a better team after going down to Tshwane-arch rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 quarter-finals on Sunday at Tuks Stadium.
Hunt has lauded his players’ efforts despite suffering a 2-0 loss to the MTN8 defending champions with goals by Marcelo Allende and Nasir Abubeker, who were signed in the off-season.
The two goals came late in the second half, and the 58-year-old believes that had they converted the chances they created, they could have pulled an upset against the star-studded Sundowns team.
“I’m disappointed, I thought we created some great opportunities, certainly more than them, but we don’t score.
“The quality will always tell, but we were brilliant. I can’t fault the players; they were magnificent, and we were great if you compare the teams. I can’t ask for more,” the former Kaizer Chiefs mentor told the media.
Following Hunt’s return to the club, Matsatsantsa have had a poor start to the new DStv Premiership season, which saw them notch only one victory in five league games.
SuperSport have opened a season with a 1-1 draw against Daine Klate-coached team Chippa United, followed by back-to-back losses against AmaZulu and TS Galaxy respectively, a 0-0 stalemate against Orlando Pirates and a hard fought 1-0 victory against PSL newbies Richards Bay.
After being eliminated from the top eight competition by Sundowns, the Spartans will shift their focus to the league to face Bafana Ba Style in a Tshwane derby on Friday, 02 September.
His opposite number, Rulani Mokwena, said they would treat the league game cautiously. He is aware that the league is a whole different ball game.
Mokwena, who shares Sundowns’ co-coaching role with Manqoba Mngqithi, said they would prepare the team to avoid complacency when they meet their city rivals on Friday.
