BIDVEST Wits coach Gavin Hunt is no one’s idea of a football romantic, but following yesterday’s Nedbank Cup semifinal draw, where he was pitted against Stuart Baxter’s Kaizer Chiefs, the Clever Boys mentor spoke openly about his pursuit of a personal milestone.
He also mentioned that he did not leave his former club SuperSport United, where he won three Premier League titles in a row, to play second fiddle to any of the country’s top sides. He is looking to guide Wits past Amakhosi and to set up a finale against either Maritzburg United or Orlando Pirates – the other semifinalists.
“I don’t know if anybody has got to three finals in a row, so that will be a personal ambition for me... to try and get to another final. I have been to two already and I know what it is all about. I thought we were very unfortunate last year to lose to Chiefs in extra time,” said Hunt, who clinched the 2012 edition with SuperSport.
“This semifinal will be tough for us because even though we are at home, maybe 90% of the crowd will be theirs. We obviously have a lot of league games to worry about before we play this match, so we can’t really pre-empt what will happen.
“I didn’t come here to come second. I am here to win trophies even though I have said on the record that we will be much stronger next season. The team is certainly going in the right direction because I think we have gone 12 games unbeaten now. We just need to keep going,” said Hunt.
Wits beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 in Botshabelo to put their names in the hat for the semifinal draw, while Amakhosi left it late to down SuperSport 2-0 at FNB Stadium at the weekend. The Clever Boys face Chiefs in a league clash on April 23 before the cup tie, scheduled for the weekend of May 2.
“I don’t know if there’s any advantage or disadvantage of playing each other two weeks apart. I did it against Pirates once when we played them three times in six days, and there wasn’t much difference. We will take it one game at a time,” said Hunt.
For his counterpart Baxter, being in a position to defend their league and cup double from last season has been very satisfying for the Englishman.
“To be at the sharp end of the stick and in with a chance to defend both our titles is pleasing.
“Gavin will organise his team well and they are in a nice rich vein of form,” said Baxter.
You can bring them on – Hunt
He also mentioned that he did not leave his former club SuperSport United, where he won three Premier League titles in a row, to play second fiddle to any of the country’s top sides. He is looking to guide Wits past Amakhosi and to set up a finale against either Maritzburg United or Orlando Pirates – the other semifinalists.
“I don’t know if anybody has got to three finals in a row, so that will be a personal ambition for me... to try and get to another final. I have been to two already and I know what it is all about. I thought we were very unfortunate last year to lose to Chiefs in extra time,” said Hunt, who clinched the 2012 edition with SuperSport.
“This semifinal will be tough for us because even though we are at home, maybe 90% of the crowd will be theirs. We obviously have a lot of league games to worry about before we play this match, so we can’t really pre-empt what will happen.
“I didn’t come here to come second. I am here to win trophies even though I have said on the record that we will be much stronger next season. The team is certainly going in the right direction because I think we have gone 12 games unbeaten now. We just need to keep going,” said Hunt.
Wits beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 in Botshabelo to put their names in the hat for the semifinal draw, while Amakhosi left it late to down SuperSport 2-0 at FNB Stadium at the weekend. The Clever Boys face Chiefs in a league clash on April 23 before the cup tie, scheduled for the weekend of May 2.
“I don’t know if there’s any advantage or disadvantage of playing each other two weeks apart. I did it against Pirates once when we played them three times in six days, and there wasn’t much difference. We will take it one game at a time,” said Hunt.
For his counterpart Baxter, being in a position to defend their league and cup double from last season has been very satisfying for the Englishman.
“To be at the sharp end of the stick and in with a chance to defend both our titles is pleasing.
“Gavin will organise his team well and they are in a nice rich vein of form,” said Baxter.
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