Extra Time: Michael Madyira argues that despite looking at times like they could beat Sundowns, SuperSport United and Cape Town City did not have what it takes.
Gavin Hunt was praised for not spending a single cent building a competitive SuperSport United team that gave Mamelodi Sundowns a good run for their money last season.
His strict approach in the transfer market was remarkable, getting all the good players without spending money.
Even Eric Tinkler earned praise for the way he did business down in Cape Town City.
The two coaches became examples of how to build a strong team without spending a lot.
It’s almost the same approach adopted by Steve Barker, which has seen Stellenbosch emerge as a serious contender for a top-two place in the PSL title race.
But something went wrong with Hunt and Tinkler this season.
After starting the season as potential PSL title challengers, SuperSport and City fizzled out when it came to the crunch.
Matsatsanta had young players like Ime Okon, Shandre Campbell and Keenan Bezuidenhout in a squad blended with old blood like Thulani Hlatshwayo, Onismor Bhasera and Bradley Grobler.
But they failed to break Sundowns’ domestic football dominance.
Down in Cape Town, Tinkler introduced Heaven Sereets, Ahshene Jody Lee, and Shekeel April to a team that already had Thamsanqa Mkhize, Marc van Heerden, Darren Keet, and Lorenzo Gordinho.
Like SuperSport, they started collapsing and went for 10 PSL games without winning until they beat Moroka Swallows on Tuesday.
By December 2023, before the PSL went on the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) break, SuperSport was second on the table, while City was third.
But after the campaign’s resumption, Hunt’s team went on a 10-match winless run in the league, dropping to sixth while City remained in seventh.
SuperSport even eliminated City from the Nedbank Cup but were thrown out of this competition in humiliating fashion following a 4-0 defeat by Stellenbosch in the quarter-finals.
SuperSport and Cape Town City had become model teams, showing Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates how to do business in the transfer market.
Where it went wrong for these teams is one big story of this season, allowing Stellenbosch, Sekhukhune United and TS Galaxy to ghost in as contenders for a top-two spot.
Pictured above: SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt.
Image source: SuperSport United
