Four-time league winning coach Gavin Hunt has revealed the targets for SuperSport United this season.
After finishing third in the 2022/23 season and getting the club back into the CAF inter-club qualification spots, the return of continental football took its toll on a stretched Matsatsatsana squad.
However, it saw the emergence of talented development products, none more so than Ime Okon and Shandre Campbell, the latter of which earned a move to Belgian giants Club Brugge after just one season of senior football.
Hunt and the SuperSport board have now strengthened the side with several experienced additions like Pogiso Sanoka, Nyiko Mobbie, Vincent Pule, Brooklyn Poggenpoel, Keanin Ayer, Thakasani Mbanjwa – while Ricardo Goss returned on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns.
“The target, if we can is to get back into Africa, it’s the first target, we missed it by one point which was frustrating [last season], so try and get back there if we can,” Hunt stated.
While 11 players from the first team exited, including the sales of Campbell and Keagan Johannes joining Sundowns, Thalante Mbatha joined Orlando Pirates permanently after a successful loan, the clubs CEO Stan Matthews stated last month they are confident they go into the season a stronger squad, especially in their starting line-up.
With depth perhaps the issue, Hunt also expressed the challenges of the season kicking off late, as their pre-season was extended without competitive fixtures since their last game more than a month ago when they lost 3-1 to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 opener.
“It’s been very difficult [this pre-season] for a lot of clubs if you not in Africa, and you never stayed in the cup, it’s been a nightmare,” he explained.
“We’ve tried to look at combinations and friendlies, we’ll play this weekend again, it’s all you can do… and try and have scenarios of if, if, that’s what we look for as football teams.”
SuperSport open up their league campaign in the Tshwane Derby next week Tuesday against Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld (19h30).
