SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt has discussed the benefits of qualifying for the CAF Champions League as the club is in a tight race with Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs for a second place finish in the Premiership.
Matsatsantsa are five points clear of Pirates, Richards Bay and Chiefs, who are all tied on 31 points on the table.
Hunt, who guided former club Amakhosi to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League in 2021, said that qualifying for the continental premier club competition has benefits, but having a long season can also have an effect on the condition of the team for the following campaign.
“I’d love to get there, let’s get there first. I think the benefits will be, I always say Africa makes your team stronger, makes your team mentally stronger, better,” Hunt said in a media statement at the club’s training base.
“There’s certain time you can rotate the squad a little bit here and there. So I think it makes you better. Obviously it can affect you like it affected SuperSport the last time, they almost got relegated when they got to the final of the CAF Confederation Cup.” Hunt added that the team must focus on what they need to do in order to qualify for the Champions League, and that every week is going to be important as they still have to play both Pirates and Chiefs this season “But I think we need to concentrate on what need to do, take care of it, that’s why last weekend was important, every week is going to be important and obviously, we’ll still play them, Chiefs and Pirates this season,” he said.
The race for the second place finish in the Premiership is heating up, and SuperSport United will be looking to capitalize on their current five-point lead. If they can manage to qualify for the CAF Champions League, it could be a massive boost for the club, both on and off the pitch.
