Practice makes perfect: How Hunt got Klate to score two goals in MTN8 final

Gavin Hunt pulled Daine Klate aside and worked with him taking shots at goal in the week before the MTN8 final‚ leading to the winger’s brace‚ the player has revealed.

Klate entered the realms of the Premier Soccer League era’s greats with his brace in Wits’ 3-0 deconstruction of Mamelodi Sundowns‚ earning his seventh cup winner’s medal to add to five league titles‚ all at three different clubs in a 12-year career.

But the player had only praise for Hunt – the coach with whom Klate has reunited having starred for Hunt’s SuperSport United team that won three successive league titles from 2008 to 2010 – after an epic performance by Wits at Mbombela Stadium.

“I really just wanted to do it for him on Saturday. He took me aside last Friday after training and we kicked balls together‚” the final’s man-of-the-match said.

“He said to me‚ ‘If you kick 10 balls at goal every day [after training] you will score a goal [in the final]’. “Monday‚ Tuesday. Wednesday‚ Thursday‚ I did what he said.

“And there it came exactly the way he was kicking the ball to me [in training]‚ and in the exact same position that we were working in‚ and it’s a goal.

“He said to me that I don’t get into the box enough. I got in the box on two occasions and scored two goals.

“So really he was the man-of the match. When we do what he says‚ we win.

“He said to me I’d score 10 goals last season and Wits would win the league. We came close‚ with Sundowns the better team. I scored more than 10 goals and we ended up second.”

At 31‚ Klate has had a lease of life at Wits‚ who he was lured to after a six-month stint back at SuperSport in 2015.

The midfielder‚ whose lack of Bafana caps (13) is being questioned given he wracked up a 12th career medal on Saturday‚ rejoined SuperSport from Orlando Pirates.

There Klate had been instrumental in the Buccaneers’ back-to-back treble seasons in 2010-11 and 2011-12. A little good luck charm for every team he has played for‚ Klate enjoyed one of his best scoring seasons at Wits in 2015-16‚ with 12 goals and 15 assists in all competitions.

“When I left Pirates‚ I joined SuperSport‚ and before I knew it I signed for Bidvest Wits‚” Klate said.

“Because I knew they valued me so much. And the coach really wanted to bring me in. And I was glad on Saturday that it paid off.

“It took a season‚ and I’m really delighted for the club. It's a fantastic club and I’m enjoying myself. We start training at 9am – at 7am I’m already there.

“They’ve got a beautiful training pitch – who doesn’t want to be there early?

“So I think‚ all-in-all‚ all credit must go to the club. They’ve been fantastic to me‚ and I think nothing makes me happier than getting a trophy now.

“And like the coach says‚ the hard work starts now and hopefully we’re going to get many more.”

Klate is one of a trio of players Hunt has recruited that played a role for the coach at SuperSport. Bongani Khumalo has played his role as a centre-back since his arrival at Wits back from Europe last season.

Mozambican winger Elias Pelembe – the PSL’s 2007-08 player of the season – was close to his best in Saturday’s cup final.

- TMG Sport