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.
