Jonty Mark

By Jonty Mark

Football Editor


Pirates are Wits’ second team – Hunt

Gavin Hunt has joked that Orlando Pirates are Bidvest Wits’ 2nd XI, with the two sides set to go head-to-head in the Nedbank Cup last 32 early next month, and again in the Absa Premiership in March.


Wits are in the running for the Absa Premiership title, while Pirates are highly unlikely to make a challenge of their own, after a dismal start to the season, though the Buccaneers are showing signs of recovery under new head coach Josef Zinnbauer.

READ: Gordinho joins Wits after Kaizer Chiefs let him go

The Buccaneers beat Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 on Wednesday, with former Wits striker Gabadinho Mhango getting his 11th league goal of the season and his 5th in 2020.

“They (Pirates) are firing at the moment and it is good for the league,” said Hunt this week, after Wits had beaten Bloemfontein Celtic 3-2 at Bidvest Stadium. The Clever Boys trail league leaders Kaizer Chiefs by 11 points, but have three games in hand, and still have to play Amakhosi home and away.

“We will play them in the cup and the league, and we had a helluva game (in the first round) where we beat them 4-3 in Durban. Pirates is Wits’ second team if you think about it, they have all our players – Gaba (Mhango) Vincent Pule, Ben Motshwari, Xola Mlambo.”

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.