SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt says he will field Thatayaone Ditlhokwe as long as he shows commitment and would even field him against his new club Kaizer Chiefs.
The Botswana international captain signed a pre-contract to join Chiefs ahead of the 2023/24 season but has maintained his spot in the first eleven under Hunt.
Since his move was confirmed by Amakhosi, he’s played each of the last four league games with impressive displays in the heart of their defense as they sit second in the DStv Premiership behind Mamelodi Sundowns.
“I can give you so many examples where teams got rid of players, which have cost them and I’ve had players, even when I was here the last time, we won the league, with players who signed for other clubs,” Hunt said at SuperSport training on Wednesday morning.
“We called them in and said, don’t cheat the game, respect the game, respect your contract, and if you say no I want to leave then we’ll let you go but other than that he’s been fantastic for us and it’s a big loss for us going forward.
“But right now, he’s got nine games and I’ve always said to him, treat the game with game respect and it will pay you back. Yes [he’s still committed], oh yes, if he drops off, he won’t play…”
Hunt maintained he would even field him when the two clubs meet on May 13 and cited how Chiefs shot themselves in the foot when George Maluleka was frozen out of the squad and allowed to leave when he signed a pre-contract with Mamelodi Sundowns.
“I think so [I will trust him], I will definitely play him, I won’t play him, as I said there are so many examples of teams letting [players go]. The team you spoke about let a player go in the middle of the season and he took all the free-kicks,” Hunt added.
“They couldn’t score another one [for the season], there are examples of that type of thing, I think you need to keep players and players need to honour their game, six months is a long time, it’s not six weeks…
“Even if the player signs a deal somewhere else, I would still let the player train with us, if they were going overseas, I will let them train with us, of course. That’s what the game is about.”
Matstsansa take on Golden Arrows on Sunday afternoon at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium with the aim to further cement their runners-up position in the top-flight.
