BIDVEST Wits coach Gavin Hunt is no one's idea of a football romantic, but following yesterday's Nedbank Cup semifinal draw, the Clever Boys mentor spoke openly about his pursuit of a personal milestone.
The wily coach was pitted against Stuart Baxter of Kaizer Chiefs. Hunt also mentioned that he did not leave his former club, SuperSport United, where he won three Premier League titles in a row, to play second fiddle to any of the country's top sides as he looks to guide Wits past Amakhosi and set up a final against either Maritzburg United or Orlando Pirates - the other semifinalists.
"I don't know if anybody has got to three [Nedbank Cup] finals in a row, so that will be a personal ambition for me . to try and get to another final. I have been to two already and I know what it is all about. I thought we were very unfortunate last year to lose to [Kaizer] Chiefs in extra time," said Hunt, who clinched the 2012 edition with Matsatsantsa.
"This semifinal will be tough for us because even though we are at home, maybe 90% of the crowd will be theirs.
"We obviously have a lot of league games to worry about before we play this cup match, so we can't really pre-empt what is to happen.
"I didn't come here to come second. I am here to win trophies even though I have said on the record that we will be much stronger next season. The team is certainly going in the right direction because I think we have gone 12 games unbeaten now. We just need to keep going," he said.
Wits overcame Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 in Botshabelo to put their names in the hat for the semifinal draw, while Amakhosi left it late to beat Matsantsantsa 2-0 at FNB Stadium at the weekend. The Clever Boys face Chiefs in a league clash on April 23 before the cup tie, scheduled for the weekend of May 2.
"I don't know if there's any advantage or disadvantage of playing each other two weeks apart. I did it against Pirates once when we played them three times in six days, and there wasn't much difference. I don't want to get ahead of myself here. Maybe all I need to say is that we will take it one game at a time."
His counterpart, Baxter, is in a position to defend their league and cup double from last season. "People have been asking if we can do it from the start of the season and I have been thinking it is really going to be difficult.
"But, in truth, to be at the sharp end of the stick and in with a chance to defend both our titles is pleasing," Baxter said.
Hunt for treble
BIDVEST Wits coach Gavin Hunt is no one's idea of a football romantic, but following yesterday's Nedbank Cup semifinal draw, the Clever Boys mentor spoke openly about his pursuit of a personal milestone.
The wily coach was pitted against Stuart Baxter of Kaizer Chiefs. Hunt also mentioned that he did not leave his former club, SuperSport United, where he won three Premier League titles in a row, to play second fiddle to any of the country's top sides as he looks to guide Wits past Amakhosi and set up a final against either Maritzburg United or Orlando Pirates - the other semifinalists.
"I don't know if anybody has got to three [Nedbank Cup] finals in a row, so that will be a personal ambition for me . to try and get to another final. I have been to two already and I know what it is all about. I thought we were very unfortunate last year to lose to [Kaizer] Chiefs in extra time," said Hunt, who clinched the 2012 edition with Matsatsantsa.
"This semifinal will be tough for us because even though we are at home, maybe 90% of the crowd will be theirs.
"We obviously have a lot of league games to worry about before we play this cup match, so we can't really pre-empt what is to happen.
"I didn't come here to come second. I am here to win trophies even though I have said on the record that we will be much stronger next season. The team is certainly going in the right direction because I think we have gone 12 games unbeaten now. We just need to keep going," he said.
Wits overcame Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 in Botshabelo to put their names in the hat for the semifinal draw, while Amakhosi left it late to beat Matsantsantsa 2-0 at FNB Stadium at the weekend. The Clever Boys face Chiefs in a league clash on April 23 before the cup tie, scheduled for the weekend of May 2.
"I don't know if there's any advantage or disadvantage of playing each other two weeks apart. I did it against Pirates once when we played them three times in six days, and there wasn't much difference. I don't want to get ahead of myself here. Maybe all I need to say is that we will take it one game at a time."
His counterpart, Baxter, is in a position to defend their league and cup double from last season. "People have been asking if we can do it from the start of the season and I have been thinking it is really going to be difficult.
"But, in truth, to be at the sharp end of the stick and in with a chance to defend both our titles is pleasing," Baxter said.
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