Gavin Hunt looking to bring back Wonderboy Makhubu as Stellenbosch switch focus to Premiership survival

Stellenbosch FC coach Gavin Hunt will switch all his attention to keeping the Winelands club afloat in the Betway Premiership now, after their exit from the CAF Confederation Cup. 

Stellies had already been eliminated from the continental competition prior to Sunday’s goalless draw with Singida Black Stars at DHL Stadium, but do still have Round of 16 Nedbank Cup tie against Golden Arrows looming. Hunt, though, stressed his focus is firmly on improving Stellenbosch’s lowly 13th position on the League table, starting with the clash against Magesi FC on Wednesday evening at the Danie Craven Stadium. 

“In our situation, the next game is the most important game,” Hunt said.

“We can't prioritise. Last year they could do a little bit because they were well up in the league, you know, they did so well last year. Steve (Barker) in the Confed Cup, they could really have a go there, but they did because they were well safe.

“We're not safe. I mean, Chippa won three in a row now. So, you know, from bottom to nowhere, to like above us.

“The problem is people can look at it with games in hand, but games in hand mean nothing. Points in hand are better for me, you know. So, Wednesday is a huge game for us, yeah.”

Hunt showed his hand by resting new striker Wonderboy Makhubu altogether, while also keeping Devin Titus and Tshegofatso Mabasa on the bench in a bid to keep them fresh for Wednesday's virtual six-point swing with the Water Crocodiles. 

Magesi FC are currently rooted to the bottom of the table on 11 points, but could move to within one point of Stellies should they claim victory at the Danie Craven Stadium.

“I didn't want to take a risk in playing (Makhubu). And then, you know, we're losing him for Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday,” Hunt said.

“You know, if you get an injury now, a week or two, you're going to lose four or five games. So I think these games are more important coming up than this game. 

“There's a couple of them I didn't play. I didn't want to play Devin, I didn't want to play Mabasa , but I put him on at the end. And you saw a little bit of difference, you know, they make a difference. But I didn't want to play, a lot of them I didn't want to play. I shouldn't have played them.”

* Zaahier Adams is a veteran sports reporter with over three decades of experience in the field. He has covered multiple major ICC events, and hopes to one day see the Proteas lift a World Cup championship.