Best thing in football is to be good at being predictable, says SuperSport’s Hunt
Coach rejects the idea SuperSport United will be title contenders but affirms that they have stuck to the basics and it is working for them
19 October 2022 - 17:43
by Mahlatse Mphahlele
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SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt during their DStv Premiership match against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on September 17 2022. Picture: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Simple and predictable. That is how Gavin Hunt masterminded the revival of SuperSport United from also-rans to the top of the Premier Soccer League after a 2-0 win over Stellenbosch on Tuesday.
Hunt, who has flatly rejected the idea that United will be title contenders at the end of the season, said after the win that they have stuck to the basics and it is working for them.
“The best thing in football is to be predictable, but be good at being predictable,” said Hunt, who has in the past taken a swipe at modern football’s overused coaching clichés, among them rest defence, transition, half-spaces and critical phases.
“The best teams in the world play simple football and are predictable — we will try to perfect that. We don’t have the players to play integral football, but you can win many games of football.
“So let’s win with what we have, let’s make it predictable and simplified. It is as simple as that.”
United may be overtaken at the top by Mamelodi Sundowns, Richards Bay or Kaizer Chiefs, who were in action against Marumo Gallants, TS Galaxy and Cape Town City, respectively on Wednesday, but Hunt is taking it one game at a time.
“When games are so spread out, it makes it a bit easier, and our next game is only in 12 days. Hopefully we can get one or two players back from injury and then we go again.
“I have always said you need to change winning teams because it keeps hunger and everyone on the edge. The guys battled in this match against Stellenbosch. We had some good moments and some really poor moments, but we are happy with three points,” he said.
United is one of the form teams in the league after successive wins against Royal AM, Sekhukhune United and Stellenbosch, gathering an impressive eight goals from those encounters.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Best thing in football is to be good at being predictable, says SuperSport’s Hunt
Coach rejects the idea SuperSport United will be title contenders but affirms that they have stuck to the basics and it is working for them
Simple and predictable. That is how Gavin Hunt masterminded the revival of SuperSport United from also-rans to the top of the Premier Soccer League after a 2-0 win over Stellenbosch on Tuesday.
Hunt, who has flatly rejected the idea that United will be title contenders at the end of the season, said after the win that they have stuck to the basics and it is working for them.
“The best thing in football is to be predictable, but be good at being predictable,” said Hunt, who has in the past taken a swipe at modern football’s overused coaching clichés, among them rest defence, transition, half-spaces and critical phases.
“The best teams in the world play simple football and are predictable — we will try to perfect that. We don’t have the players to play integral football, but you can win many games of football.
“So let’s win with what we have, let’s make it predictable and simplified. It is as simple as that.”
United may be overtaken at the top by Mamelodi Sundowns, Richards Bay or Kaizer Chiefs, who were in action against Marumo Gallants, TS Galaxy and Cape Town City, respectively on Wednesday, but Hunt is taking it one game at a time.
“When games are so spread out, it makes it a bit easier, and our next game is only in 12 days. Hopefully we can get one or two players back from injury and then we go again.
“I have always said you need to change winning teams because it keeps hunger and everyone on the edge. The guys battled in this match against Stellenbosch. We had some good moments and some really poor moments, but we are happy with three points,” he said.
United is one of the form teams in the league after successive wins against Royal AM, Sekhukhune United and Stellenbosch, gathering an impressive eight goals from those encounters.
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