SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt says he is disappointed that his remarks about Mamelodi Sundowns generated banter, but facts are clear about the rivals’ quality.
Hunt said this in a post-match interview with SuperSport TV after his side had defeated the DStv Premiership champions 2-1 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Friday evening.
“They are really a good side. They are well-coached. There has been some banter in the press, which is sometimes upsetting, but if you know the facts about football, let us sit across the table and speak some facts. They have got the quality, and they are really good,” he said.
The former Kaizer Chiefs mentor said it was clear that their rivals have won the league title in five consecutive seasons due to their depth in quality.
The ex-Chippa United trainer said his team needs beefing up, adding that they have to play in a certain way because most players are young and need time to develop.
“…just disappointed about their last goal because that is a real standard situation which we should have taken care of… Hopefully, we can get one or two bodies before the window closes,” Hunt said.
In the build-up to the match, Sundowns’ co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi hit back at Hunt’s earlier remarks that the champions’ buying power had weakened the PSL.
The former Bidvest Wits mentor had made such remarks after SuperSport’s 2-0 loss to Sundowns in the MTN8 quarterfinal match at Tuks Stadium last week.
“I would have the same talk with Gavin when he was at Bidvest, and they were signing so many players, and he was winning…were they also killing the league?” Daily Sun quoted Mngqithi saying.
“Because the truth of the matter is, if you were to check that season when Wits won the league, you would find that Gavin signed a lot of quality players, and he did very well.”
Return to SuperSport’s coaching job coincided with the departure of key players—goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and midfielder Sipho Mbule who joined Sundowns.
