Gavin Hunt couldn’t resist bemoaning the Absa Premiership stop and start this season, the Bidvest Wits coach claiming the recent international breaks are “killing us”.
But once that was out of his system - the PSL is going on hiatus due to the CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal - Hunt praised his men, who are worthy log leaders nearly halfway through this league campaign.
They are, perhaps, a much more convincing side compared to the one that only managed third place in two consecutive seasons without any silverware.
And having already missed out on the MTN8 and the Telkom KO, there’s no prize bigger than the Premiership. Hunt said he was aware of the positive improvement this time around, especially following a 3-2 win over Golden Arrows at the weekend, with the Clever Boys having to come from behind twice.
“We are much better .... we would have lost games like these the last two years, that is why we came third twice,” Hunt, a three-time league winner with SuperSport United, explained.
“We have got a good balance because we can go long or short and, right at the end, I tried to go with two wingers up front and we got good balls in. Daine Klate got the cross in for the one goal and got the others. So he was involved in all three goals. That’s quality.”
The coach, in trying to drive home his point that only games won mattered, suggested their emphatic victory over a tricky Arrows side would be forgotten by the time the league resumes next month. But that is unlikely.
Many feel the Clever Boys have showed a championship DNA in their previous three league games. They have enjoyed a decent little run this month, scoring 10 goals in a winning streak that began with a 4-0 drubbing of then table toppers Platinum Stars, then a 3-1 win over Jomo Cosmos and put November to bed by brushing Serame Letsoaka’s Arrows aside on Saturday afternoon.
Kaizer Chiefs are next in what will be their final match in 2015 and Hunt knows just how important it is to enjoy Christmas sitting pretty at the top.
“For us it is about the games we have played and the points we have collected. That is all that counts, to try and keep above our two points a game ratio and keep going as best as we can,” Hunt said.
“It’s not going to go for you every game, so you need to show the spirit of determination and the fight even though we had players returning from international duty.
“Every time the international break kills us.” - The Star