Hunting season starts

Premier Soccer League coaches are abandoning the trend of asking for more time to be successful at their new clubs and putting their heads on the block for results.

Yesterday, Wits coach Gavin Hunt admitted his accomplishments at former club Supersport United, where he won three consecutive league titles and the Nedbank Cup, meant he had no time to build as the Clever Boys management expects instant delivery.

Hunt's predecessor, Antonio Lopez Habas, was also expected to lead Wits into a new era following a massive turnaround in the club's transfer policy. Wits has suddenly moved from a club that believes in youth structures to pouring money into the team in an attempt to collect silverware.

However, Habas departed halfway through the season for "personal reasons", and it was left to caretaker coach Clive Barker to secure a fourth-spot finish for the Clever Boys.

With Hunt's arrival, the MTN8 is perhaps the first trophy the coach fancies winning - having finished as a runner-up with Supersport last season.

Wits host Bloemfontein Celtic in the quarterfinals tomorrow night.

"I think for me it is a great opportunity to take another club to another level and make them competitive," Hunt said.

"I don't think it is going to happen overnight, but I know in the long run - with the structures we've got and systems we've put in place - the club can be successful."

Hunt said he was confident he already had his imprint on the team despite being at Wits for six weeks and playing to a goalless draw in their opening Absa Premiership clash against Platinum Stars on Sunday.

Meanwhile, after settling down well in their first Absa Premiership season and finishing eighth, University of Pretoria now want to challenge for trophies.

AmaTuks travel to Soccer City to take on Kaizer Chiefs in the MTN8 on Saturday night.

Chiefs are out to avenge the 1-0 defeat inflicted on them by Ama-Tuks in their last league match of the season in Mbombela.

Thabo Mosadi scored the all important goal which earned Ama-Tuks a place in the top eight competition - a rare achievement for Premiership debutants.

The reigning league and Nedbank champions are yet to beat captain Tebogo Monyai and company since the Tshwane side gained promotion to the PSL.

The two sides played to an exciting 1-1 draw at the same venue in August last year during their first-round league clash.

In Phokeng on Saturday, Platinum Stars have vowed to bundle Free State Stars out of the MTN8 when the two sides meet at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

In the final game of the weekend, Orlando Pirates play Supersport United at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday.