SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt says he has sufficient cover at the back and that’s why he opted against signing free agent Erick Mathoho.
Hunt, despite having lost Botswana captain Thatayaone Ditlhokwe to Kaizer Chiefs, believes he has enough coverage with Thulani Hlatshwayo, Keegan Johannes, Luke Fleurs and new Tanzanian signing Mohamed Hamza.
Mathoho was training with SuperSport in the hope of winning a contract after his contract with Chiefs came to an end at the end of last season after 11 years of service.
However, he did not travel with SuperSport to Durban where Hunt’s side are having a rigorous pre-season camp to prepare them to handle five fronts next term, including the CAF Confederation Cup.
Hunt worked with Mathoho at Chiefs in the 2020/21 season, leading the club in the CAF Champions League semi-final before he was sacked when Amakhosi were under threat to finish outside the top eight.
Looking to reunite with Hunt, Mathoho could not convince his former coach, who is closing in on 1,000 games in charge in South Africa’s domestic top flight, the first coach set to do so, to reunite with him at the Tshwane giants.
“I knew we were pretty full in that position where he plays,” said Hunt.
“We have Tyson, we have the youngsters, I have signed the Tanzanian, so we are pretty full in that area. So it will be difficult to take somebody in.”
Mathoho, who won four trophies in his years at Chiefs – featuring in 267 matches, will have to look elsewhere in his quest for a new club now.
Meanwhile, SuperSport are also assessing former Sekhukhune United midfielder Nkanyiso Madonsela after already signing eight new players.
