SuperSport could open up a bigger gap

ED AARONS

JOHANNESBURG - Winning the Absa Premiership has become a regular habit for Gavin Hunt since his arrival at SuperSport United.

Like his counterpart at Manchester United, the 45-year-old from Cape Town is chasing a third successive league title this season but whereas Sir Alex Ferguson finds himself five points off the pace set by Chelsea, Hunt goes into tomorrow’s match with Bloemfontein Celtic with a seven point cushion over his nearest rivals Ajax Cape Town.

While SuperSport saw off a spirited challenge from Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday night at Loftus Versveld, with the exception of Mamelodi Sundowns, the rest of the potential challengers seriously fluffed their lines to allow Hunt’s men to extend their lead at a crucial stage of the season.

With just 13 games remaining, the desire among the SuperSport squad to emulate the Brazilians’ record of three successive PSL titles between 1998 and 2000 is there for all to see.

“The game against Chiefs was very tough but our players are hungrier for the trophy this season than they were last year,” Hunt said.

“I cannot say much more until we play on Saturday (tomorrow). That match will be more or less a decider for us and we will go into it determined to win.”

Tomorrow’s league programme could easily see SuperSport extend their lead even further should results go their way. Second and third-placed Ajax and Santos meet in an evening kick-off, by which time Hunt could easily be a whole 10 points clear at the top.

Asked who he considers as the biggest threat to his ambitions of another title, Hunt was in no doubt that Boebie Solomons’ Santos have the capability to push them all the way.

He said: “They have a great squad and regularly win games away from home.

“Sundowns have the best squad in South Africa so that can be a worry for us as well. We just have to concentrate on what we are doing because it is too dangerous to look too far down the line.

“We don’t have the best record against Celtic and then we go down to Cape Town next week so there is a long way to go yet.”

With his charges now unbeaten in 13 matches on a run that stretches back to August, there is no doubt that the title is now SuperSport’s to lose. Their squad is a model of teamwork with the goals spread throughout the side – midfielder Daine Klate currently leads the way with eight, while defender Morgan Gould is second top scorer with five.

Much of the credit for that has to go to big striker Glen Salmon, who despite having only scored four goals this season has been instrumental in the way the team plays. According to Hunt, he is just the type of player who could benefit the national side.

“Glen played in Holland for nine seasons and in a really tough league,” he said.

“There’s no doubt he’s the best targetman in the league and all it would mean is that he plays (for Bafana) for six months and then they can look to the future.”

Hunt added: “The problem is that he hasn’t scored enough goals but it isn’t always about that. We won the league with Mphela and he only managed to score once in 36 games. He helps us build up the play and is invaluable to our squad.”

If SuperSport do manage to make it three in a row, only a fool would continue to ignore that kind of advice.