Gavin Hunt’s SuperSport United are still chasing Champions League qualification while battling against the limitations of having a small DStv Premiership squad.
Despite this, they are in contention for a top-two finish, locked in a three-way battle with Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs for a coveted CAF Champions League spot. Their upcoming match against Marumo Gallants FC at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday night will be crucial for SuperSport’s aspirations.
Hunt has been struggling with injuries and suspensions, particularly in the defence, leaving him short of options for several games this season. With first-choice centre-backs Thulani Hlatshwayo and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, who recently received a booking, on the verge of serving one-match suspensions due to accumulated yellow cards, Hunt has been forced to mix and match at the back to cope with the limited options available. He said:
"Our squad is so small, we don't have [many options]. We've got four strikers and no defenders so we've got to get this balance right and that takes time and transfer windows," Hunt said, acknowledging the challenges he faces.
Despite these limitations, SuperSport has a chance to reclaim second place from Orlando Pirates, who are currently above them on goal difference, with only five matches remaining in the campaign. Kaizer Chiefs are also just two points behind in fourth position, adding further intensity to the race for the CAF Champions League spot.
United have relied heavily on veteran striker Bradley Grobler, who has scored 10 goals this season, including one in their last meeting against TS Galaxy in a 2-0 win. Ronaldo Maarman, on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns, has also been a standout player for SuperSport, providing two goal assists in their recent win over Galaxy.
Marumo Gallants, under interim coach Dylan Kerr, have been showing signs of improvement, securing a 3-1 victory over Chippa United in their last match, which lifted them out of the relegation zone for the first time in months. Kerr’s team has won three out of their last four games, including a draw against Chiefs, and is now three points clear of the bottom-placed Maritzburg United, giving them hope of avoiding relegation.
However, Gallants’ assistant coach Raymond Mdaka cautions that the threat of relegation is not yet eliminated and managing player fatigue during a busy period, including CAF Confederation Cup duties, remains a challenge.
“[We are] Not [safe] yet because there is a team that will go for playoffs, we would like to see ourselves out of this situation altogether,” Mdaka said, highlighting the need to continue collecting points to ensure safety and potentially aim for a higher position in the league.
Gallants’ danger men include striker Ranga Chivaviro, who recently scored his first DStv Premiership hat-trick against Chippa, taking his season tally to five goals in three games. Winger Katlego Otladisa has also been in fine form, creating problems for opponents with his raids down the left flank and winning penalties for Gallants.
The head-to-head record between Gallants and SuperSport United shows that out of their seven meetings, Gallants have won twice, while SuperSport United has emerged victorious four times. The upcoming match between the two teams promises to be an intriguing battle as they strive to achieve their respective objectives in the DStv Premiership.
