psl fixtures 19-20 january

BETHLEHEM, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 05: Gavin Hunt (Head Coach) of Bidvest Wits during the Absa Premiership match between Free State Stars and Bidvest Wits at Goble Park on January 05, 2019 in Bethlehem, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)

Hunt left fuming after Wits implosion throws title race open

Gavin Hunt fumed as ten-man Wits went down 2-0 to Kaizer Chiefs on Wwednesday night.

psl fixtures 19-20 january

BETHLEHEM, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 05: Gavin Hunt (Head Coach) of Bidvest Wits during the Absa Premiership match between Free State Stars and Bidvest Wits at Goble Park on January 05, 2019 in Bethlehem, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)

Gavin Hunt had to sprint onto the field to disperse a crowd of his players who had encircled referee Victor Gomes after he blew the final whistle confirming a 2-0 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday night.

Moments earlier what had been an even-tempered clash between two of the PSL’s biggest teams came quickly to the boil when Robyn Johannes received a yellow card for a cynical shoulder block. Johannes was set to pick up a one-match ban for the infringement as he picked up his third yellow card but he chose to show dissent to the referee and had his card upgraded to red. The Wits players surrounded Gomes who then booked Thabang Monare for a further display of dissent.

Not long after that Gomes blew the final whistle, a sarcastic hand clap from Cole Alexander saw the Wits midfielder join Monare in the book which prompted the home side’s players to surround the official. Hunt clearly sensing that Gomes was content to continue dishing out cards rushed onto the field and angrily chased his players away from the referee.

Hunt himself did not engage the referee but Wits CEO Jose Ferreira appeared to have a long and fairly heated discussion with the official.

Chiefs had taken the lead in the 57th Minute when Leandro Castro squeezed a low cross into the back of the Wits net from point blank range. Hendrick Ekstein made the tie safe deep into the second half with a cool finish to some slick passing from Amakhosi.

After the match, Hunt remained tightlipped and it was unclear if he was fuming at his own players after a sloppy display that ended with the league leaders conceding twice and going down to ten-men. He would not even comment on the performance of his own team.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Hunt said very little at all: “There’s not really much to say, don’t want to say too much but it is very disappointing the way the situation was handled.

PSL: Results and latest log standings on 9 January 2019

“I think the mood of the game was changed from the first minute, but we knew when we came to the game what it entailed. There’s not really much to say I don’t want to say too much. I don’t want to say anything because I might just say something I shouldn’t say.”

Wits lead second-placed Orlando Pirates by two points and will play their next league game away to Polokwane City on Sunday 20 January. Pirates have two Caf Champions League dates in the interim but only play their next league game on Tuesday 22 January when they host Baroka FC for the first time since losing the Telkom Knockout final to the Polokwane club.

It is as yet unclear if the PSL or SAFA will take further action against anyone within the Wits organization for the events at the end of the game.