New-look Wits continue their PSL charge with comfy Cape Town victory

CAPE TOWN – The new-look Bidvest Wits continued their blistering start to the PSL season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Cape Town City at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday night.

After winning the league title two seasons ago, it all fell apart for the Clever Boys last season. They struggled to reach the same level of performance – and, as a result, coach Gavin Hunt set about dismantling the squad in order to build a new unit capable of challenging for the championship: and so far, so good.

“Football in hindsight is always easy,” said Hunt. “But, after last season, I knew that I had to change the team. I believe football teams operate in about four to five year cycles, after which it has to be changed: either the players go or the coach goes. I knew I had to freshen things up, and bring in new faces. It had to change.

“Against City (on Tuesday), we started well and I thought the second goal (just before half-time) came at the right time,” added Hunt. “We then took the pedal off at stages, but a win away from home is always good.”

CoachesGavin Hunt (Bidvest Wits, left) and Benni McCarthy of Cape Town City pictured pitch-side at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday night. Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

Both Wits’ goals were scored by Scottish striker Simon Murray. Hunt, though, wasn’t in the mood to get carried away by the player’s performance.

“I don’t like to assess players after six or seven games; rather talk to me after 30,” said Hunt about Murray. “Players coming from Europe have a different mentality. He is getting better at training and I think I have done things right in how I’ve handled him.

“I also knew that the Cape Town conditions would suit his game. He’s an old-style striker, so it was a case of horses for courses. Different games have different problems – a lot of the teams in the PSL sit deep, but I knew City would press high and that would leave space for a player like Murray to get in behind.

“But I have two or three types of strikers – and next up we have Sundowns, which will need a different plan. Sundowns have the best squad in the country and we are certainly not going to get as many scoring chances.”