African Hunt abandoned

Wits University coach Gavin Hunt made it clear where his priorities lay between competing in Africa and gunning for the domestic Absa Premiership title after his side's 1-0 PSL victory over Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday night.

Wits leapfrogged Sundowns into second place in one of the most competitive, physical and fast-paced match-ups in the league this season, thanks to Sibusiso Vilakazi's 78th-minute goal.

On Saturday, the Clever Boys had contrived to spurn a 3-0 home leg lead to go to penalties at 3-3 on aggregate in the second leg in Swaziland against Royal Leopards, which Wits lost 7-6.

Hunt fielded young fringe players in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round tie.

"We've got a small squad. We've got to get our priorities right. We've got to dominate in South Africa first before we even try to go into Africa," Hunt said after his side's win against Sundowns.

"We're not a club that's as big as Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns. We don't have the same resources, so we've got to concentrate on trying to do well domestically first and then worry about Africa."

South Africa were given an extra two positions in continental competition this year by CAF, so now have two in the Champions League and two in the Confed Cup.

Meanwhile, Hunt is playing down Wits' chances of winning the league title, but Downs coach Pitso Mosimane still believes Sundowns can do it.

But Tuesday's result does catapult Wits, progressing up the league table in characteristically stealthy fashion with eight unbeaten matches, into the spotlight in the PSL race.

"One game at a time, one step at a time, that's all we want. Three points, move forward, play the next game," Hunt said when asked what the result meant to his team.

"We can't worry about Chiefs, we're far off them. We've just got to concentrate on ourselves. We've got a big game on Friday night [against Bloemfontein Celtic at home], and we need to get up again and see where we go."

Mosimane admitted the defeat made Sundowns more dependent on results out of their control. But the coach was far from throwing in the towel.

"We keep going, we don't know what's going to happen," he said.

"We don't want to blame the number of games that are coming, because sometimes you win with the same number. But look, those three titles, with the two cups [the CAF Champions League and Nedbank Cup] in it, you have to go on, and maybe you have to not win one and take the other two.

"We are still looking at all three. But you never know - other people have got three cups to play for too.

"It depends on the other [teams'] results. If the other results are also bad this thing is still on."

Sundowns meet Free State Stars in Phuthaditjhaba on Saturday.