Wits have many leaders - Collins
Bidvest Wits were last night crowned ABSA Premiership champions.
Listen to the full interview here, or read our story below.
It is their first league title since being formed back in 1921.
Soccer writer, Neal Collins, reflects on their title success under head coach Gavin Hunt.
"Two weeks ago Gavin Hunt said that talent means nothing if you don't have determination. I think last night we saw that determination as Wits bounced back from that awful 3-1 loss against their bogey side Free State Stars. Wits have leaders. I can think of five or six leaders in their squad. I am thinking here of both their goalkeepers - Moeneeb Josephs and Darren Keet. Gabadinho Mhango is a fantastic bloke. James Keene came back well in scoring the vital opening goal last night. He has had injury issues of course. Daine Klate is another who comes to mind. He is both talented and experienced. He now has six league titles to his name. This is more than anyone else in the South African game. I think the key for Wits is that Hunt manages to instill a dogged and almost nasty determination in his players. I love what Gavin hunt does," Collins said.
Sundowns drew with Maritzburg United last night and kissed their title chances good-bye in doing so. Collins has sympathy for Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane.
"Pitso has had a very long and strenuous season. Sundowns have played almost twice as many games as some of the other clubs in the ABSA Premiership. He suggested last night that his job this season was like running Two Oceans and Comrades in the same year. I love Pitso, but last night belonged to Gavin Hunt," Collins added.
With the title secured for Wits, the focus can now shift to individual awards. However, Collins does not expect to see a Wits player named player-of-the-year.
"It think it is very unlikely that the player-of-the-season award will go to a Wits player. Wits have changed their squad so much. Gavin Hunt does rotate his players. One of my criticisms of him the past few seasons at Wits is that he rotated too much. Even some of his players have complained about the squad rotation. I think you may have heard Daine Klate saying last night that he had had a lot of arguments with Hunt. I think Gavin does rotate both well and ruthlessly. I think Tyson Hlatshwayo has had a fantastic season in defence for Wits. I think both Wits goalkeepers could be contenders for goalkeeper-of-the-year. Wits have shared their goals around. They have not really had a dominant striker this season. I think that Daine Klate should be considered for the player-of-the-season award. This given his record and given the fact that he does not stop performing. He has been at a numbers of clubs over the years and still manages to produce quality free-kicks and spectacular goals as he did last night. However, Bongani Khumalo and Tyson Hlatshwayo both said last night that they never talk about player-of-the-season at Wits. This because they are a team and not individuals," Collins said.
Gavin Hunt has now won four league titles as head coach. Yet he has once again been over-looked for the Bafana Bafana head coach role. Collins believes it is a job Hunt wants.
"My understanding from a man very close to Gavin, is that Gavin does want the Bafana job. He did want it this time and also the last time when Shakes Mashaba was appointed. Yet Gavin is never even on the short-list. I have always thought that Gavin will never get on with someone like Danny Jordaan. I have had lunch with Danny and have spent time with Gavin. The two of them are like chalk and cheese. The same applies to Hunt and SAFA CEO Dennis Mumble. They are never going to get on with a guy like Gavin, because Gavin will tell them the truth. He will make it clear if SAFA have made a mess of things. If you look at the way both Bafana and SAFA are run, it is clear than Gavin will not get on with people like that. At Bidvest Wits he has everything set up for him. He is looked after and is paid well at Wits. This made me think that Gavin did not want the Bafana job. Yet I am told by someone close to him that he Gavin is really angry every time he is ignored for the Bafana job," Collins concluded.
Soccer writer, Neal Collins, reflects on their title success under head coach Gavin Hunt.
"Two weeks ago Gavin Hunt said that talent means nothing if you don't have determination. I think last night we saw that determination as Wits bounced back from that awful 3-1 loss against their bogey side Free State Stars. Wits have leaders. I can think of five or six leaders in their squad. I am thinking here of both their goalkeepers - Moeneeb Josephs and Darren Keet. Gabadinho Mhango is a fantastic bloke. James Keene came back well in scoring the vital opening goal last night. He has had injury issues of course. Daine Klate is another who comes to mind. He is both talented and experienced. He now has six league titles to his name. This is more than anyone else in the South African game. I think the key for Wits is that Hunt manages to instill a dogged and almost nasty determination in his players. I love what Gavin hunt does," Collins said.
Sundowns drew with Maritzburg United last night and kissed their title chances good-bye in doing so. Collins has sympathy for Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane.
"Pitso has had a very long and strenuous season. Sundowns have played almost twice as many games as some of the other clubs in the ABSA Premiership. He suggested last night that his job this season was like running Two Oceans and Comrades in the same year. I love Pitso, but last night belonged to Gavin Hunt," Collins added.
With the title secured for Wits, the focus can now shift to individual awards. However, Collins does not expect to see a Wits player named player-of-the-year.
"It think it is very unlikely that the player-of-the-season award will go to a Wits player. Wits have changed their squad so much. Gavin Hunt does rotate his players. One of my criticisms of him the past few seasons at Wits is that he rotated too much. Even some of his players have complained about the squad rotation. I think you may have heard Daine Klate saying last night that he had had a lot of arguments with Hunt. I think Gavin does rotate both well and ruthlessly. I think Tyson Hlatshwayo has had a fantastic season in defence for Wits. I think both Wits goalkeepers could be contenders for goalkeeper-of-the-year. Wits have shared their goals around. They have not really had a dominant striker this season. I think that Daine Klate should be considered for the player-of-the-season award. This given his record and given the fact that he does not stop performing. He has been at a numbers of clubs over the years and still manages to produce quality free-kicks and spectacular goals as he did last night. However, Bongani Khumalo and Tyson Hlatshwayo both said last night that they never talk about player-of-the-season at Wits. This because they are a team and not individuals," Collins said.
Gavin Hunt has now won four league titles as head coach. Yet he has once again been over-looked for the Bafana Bafana head coach role. Collins believes it is a job Hunt wants.
"My understanding from a man very close to Gavin, is that Gavin does want the Bafana job. He did want it this time and also the last time when Shakes Mashaba was appointed. Yet Gavin is never even on the short-list. I have always thought that Gavin will never get on with someone like Danny Jordaan. I have had lunch with Danny and have spent time with Gavin. The two of them are like chalk and cheese. The same applies to Hunt and SAFA CEO Dennis Mumble. They are never going to get on with a guy like Gavin, because Gavin will tell them the truth. He will make it clear if SAFA have made a mess of things. If you look at the way both Bafana and SAFA are run, it is clear than Gavin will not get on with people like that. At Bidvest Wits he has everything set up for him. He is looked after and is paid well at Wits. This made me think that Gavin did not want the Bafana job. Yet I am told by someone close to him that he Gavin is really angry every time he is ignored for the Bafana job," Collins concluded.
Twitter -@SportswaveAndre