By Michael Madyira
SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt has dismissed the notion that challenging for the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title needs money.
The Matsatsantsa tactician reveals he did not fork out a single rand in building a squad for this season.
In assembling his squad, Hunt relied on free agents, loaned players from Mamelodi Sundowns and promoted development players after they lost Sipho Mbule and Ronwen Williams to the Brazilians.
But SuperSport are third on the PSL standings and have been one of the teams trying to put pressure on leaders Downs.
However, Hunt acknowledges that Sundowns seem uncatchable in the PSL and that the league battle is between second-placed Richards Bay and SuperSport.
“There is a big fight for second and third [place]. This is a real bunch there,” said Hunt.
“You are taking into consideration budgets. Who is spending more than you, who has bought, and who hasn’t bought?
“We haven’t spent R1 this season, not R1, I haven’t bought one player. But I think we are punching up there. We come here and we are better than them [Sundowns] and we do our thing.”
SuperSport are also yet to sign a player in the current transfer period.
But before the start of the season, they signed Orlando Pirates rejects Siphesihle Ndlovu and Thulani Hlatshwayo on free transfers.
They also brought on Patrick Maswanganyi, who had failed in the Portuguese lower tier, as well as Thabang Sibanyoni, Grant Margeman and goalkeeper Ricardo Goss on loan from Sundowns.
“So, let’s not judge ourselves on where we are going to finish but on what we have got. Let’s try to make this better,” Hunt said.
“For me, you can only judge the ability of your team on the ability of your players. Judge what you have got and what they have got.
“When you put your team sheet down, say you have picked your eleven and they show you your eleven and then we go from there, see if it is a fair fight.
“When I started years ago, the teams were much closer [but] Sundowns bought all their players. They have got our top players.
“It happens, that’s how we survive, we work on budgets and things like that. So you have to be realistic with what you have got.”
A Kaizer Chiefs coaching discard who did not last the 2020/2021 season at Naturena, Hunt is a four-time PSL title-winner who is rejuvenating himself after another difficult spell at Chippa United.
Pictured above: Gavin Hunt
Image source: SuperSport United
