Hunt upset with fringe players
Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt was disappointed by the performance of his fringe players when his side lost to Jomo Cosmos in their Nedbank Cup clash.
Gavin Hunt during the Bidvest Wits media open day at Sturrock Park. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
The Clever Boys failed to defeat the First National Division side in a game that went all the way to extra-time before they were knocked out in a penalty shootout.
“It’s difficult to play against Cosmos, we knew what we were up against and all credit to them – they did what they had to and got through,” Hunt told SuperSport TV.
“Tomorrow, no one will remember how they got through but that they did so. I don’t know how much possession we had in and around their box, but a lot of players that I gave a chance to weren’t there tonight (Tuesday).
“You learn a lot about people when given a chance and they don’t do it for us. So we’ll regroup and start again but I’m very disappointed because I thought we did enough to try and work [our way through].
“It’s always difficult to play against Jomo [Sono] and we knew that, so we should have been better.”
Hunt made two changes at half-time, hurling off Ejike Uzoenyi and Jabulani Shongwe for Phakamani Mahlambi and Daine Klate, and the Clever Boys looked a completely different outfit in the second half.
“I changed the shape at half-time to try and go a little bit more direct, which worked. I mean they never came into our half in the second half,” he added.
“It’s just that final ball that we couldn’t get in there but we had to be a little bit better, more crafty, more inventive with our inter-playing.
“Phaka [Mahlambi] did great, he goes past the first man and then he’s got to pass it, but he did great and changed the game for us in the second half
“Disappointed because we wanted to stay in the cup. Now we’ve got Caf [Confederation Cup] and you know we play every two, three days so it’s tough.”
