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Hunt bemoans ‘home’ match in Durban

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Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt bemoaned the fact that his team had to travel to Durban to play Orlando Pirates in their home match, even though the Students managed to secure a thrilling Absa Premiership win at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

A brace by Mxolisi Macuphu added to strikes by Deon Hotto and Cole Alexander helped the hosts secure a 4-3 victory and a move up to second on the table.

Their regular Bidvest Stadium was unavailable for the fixture due to renovations leaving Hunt unhappy with having to travel so far to play.

Playing in front around 15 000 mainly Buccaneers’ fans, Wits took the lead in the second minute, before Tshegofatso Mabaso finally leveled in stoppage time of the first half.

Macuphu fired the hosts ahead in the 50th minute and Musa Nyatama making it 2-2 six minutes later.

Alexander and Macuphu then provided a two-goal cushion, before Frank Mhango set up a tense finish when he made it 4-3 with seven minutes to play.

Hunt felt the game was too loose for his liking, adding that he had much preferred a more assured showing from his charges.

Interim Pirates coach Rhulani Mokwena, meanwhile, called the display by side a gallant one. He also hailed the fighting spirit that was on show by his players, who fought hard on their way to their second loss of the season.

The result also left them 10th on the table, but it was the performance that interested Mokwena more.

Mokwena went on to emphasise the fighting spirit of his players, adding that the Pirates of old would simply have rolled over and be thrashed 4-0.

He also defended their failure to win too many games since he took charge in mid-August. The Soweto giants have only won once in six games in that period, including suffering exits in the Champions League and MTN8.

Mokwena says that even though he was disappointed, he understood that this was a Pirates team that was a work in progress. – Report by Thahir Asmal

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