SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt feels they need a new system to develop players ready for first-team football.
The Matsatsantsa coach has arguably been one of the best developers of talent from the DStv Diski Challenge players but stated it’s not at the level it should be, due to the players not competing against seniors.
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Hunt suggested a system like the Portuguese top-clubs having their reserve teams in the second-tier would be beneficial to develop talent faster and at a higher level for first-team football.
“You want my honest opinion? No, [the DDC doesn’t prepare players for first team] not at all, I think what we need to have is a second team in the first division,” he said.
“Like they do in Portugal, have a SuperSport B playing in the first division. We used to have reserve teams in my time, in the amateur leagues, but it was a top league.
“So, if you didn’t play on Saturday you will play in the reserve team, it was much better, much stronger, playing against more men, where the Diski teams… either make it U18 or not have any over 20.
“But we have these 22-year-olds playing there for three or four years, it’s crazy, it’s either first year, don’t cut it? Out! But they keep them. I think we should have B teams in the [second tier], like Benfica B, Porto B…”
One of the promising talents signed from Gauteng Development League side Remember Elite Sports Academy (RESA) Lucky Muthewi has notably been seen with the DDC side this season and Hunt said it’s due to getting form and fitness back.
The teenager has been touted as one of the most promising talents at the club, but has now switched placed with Thabang Mahlangu, who won the Golden Boot in the league last campaign.
“He went from GDL to the first-team, he didn’t even play DDC, and last year we had what we had and we used him in a few games,” Hunt explained.
“I feel he needs a little bit more game time, a little bit more minutes under his belt and scoring a bit more there [in DDC], so we took Thabang [into the first team] who was the top scorer last year [with 18 goals].
“He didn’t have much chance as Lucky [in the first team] who is a different type of striker, so he’s in DDC but still training with the first team. But we can’t have six U19 strikers.”
