Gavin Hunt’s plea: Don’t compare SuperSport to Sundowns

Gavin Hunt’s plea: Don’t compare SuperSport to Sundowns

Ahead of tomorrow night’s Tshwane Derby at Lucas Moripe Stadium, SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt has asked his charges not to be compared to reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

Hunt, a four-time league winner, has had to come to terms with the fact that Matsatsantsa have a new model now and are no longer the side he clinched three successive Premiership trophies with between 2008 and 2010 during his first spell. 

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Sundowns have become the most successful club in the Premier Soccer League era and are currently pursuing a seventh straight title, and Hunt admits the two crosstown rivals aren’t at the same level. 

"I can measure the success because I know internally what I'm measuring, you know what I'm saying? But, obviously, you guys, the media, the Joe Soap in the public, they've fallen in love with Sundowns now, and understandably," said Hunt.

"They've been successful, they've been brilliant, they've really gone at it and invested heavily, but you can't compare the rest of the PSL to Sundowns.

"They've done a great job overall, you've got to give them credit all around. Rulani's done a great job, he's come in there and [been] brilliant, and he's stuck to his guns."

Hunt adds it was made clear to him by the club hierarchy he would have half the resources previously available following budget cuts when he accepted the job at the start of last season.

"I got sat down and told, under no circumstances, it's this way of the highway – play the kids, build a team, build players, cut the budget by – I won't even tell you how much, but it's huge," he added.

"It's all in the open, so it is what it is. And do you want to do it, or do you not want to do it? So, obviously, I'm a guy who wants to win, but I mean, I need to try and win another way maybe.

"We haven't done great so far in the cups, but that's what's going to happen. Let's look after our league status – that's the most important thing, isn't it?"

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