Hunt seeks to build SuperSport’s revival around Hlatshwayo’s form
SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt believes Thulani Hlatshwayo’s return to peak form could be the catalyst for SuperSport United’s revival in the DStv Premiership.
Hunt spoke about the defender’s form ahead of Sunday’s meeting against Orlando Pirates at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium. Kick-off is at 6pm.
The former Kaizer Chiefs coach said he wants to bring the best out of Hlatshwayo as SuperSport gun for their first maximum points of the season.
“He is getting better. Training is getting better. He is showing leadership qualities again, but the sharpness obviously takes a little bit of time,” Hunt told the media on Thursday.
“He can only get better with games. We played three games last week. I can’t fault him. What we need now is to see if he can get to the end of a few goals for us.”
The former Wits mentor said he needs a match-sharp Hlatshwayo to tighten things at the back as SuperSport have shipped in five goals in the last three games.
“You must remember he has been out of the game for six to seven months. When you have been out of the game for that long, it takes a little bit of time to regain form,” Hunt said.
The defender can, indeed, help plug the holes in the defence of SuperSport whose reunion with Hunt has got off to a turbulent start.
Matsatsantsa started the season with a 1-1 draw against Chippa United before it got worse following back-to-back losses to AmaZulu and TS Galaxy.
The former Bafana Bafana international joined the Buccaneers at the beginning of the 2020/21 season from Wits, who sold their top-flight status to Tshakuma Tsha Madzivandila.
The 32-year-old centre-back enjoyed the best form of his career when he captained the Students to their first-ever league title in the 2016/17 season.
The Soweto-born defender was also a skipper when the Soweto giants lifted the MTN8 trophy in 2020.