MIHLALI BALEKA
SuperSport United assistant coach Andre Arendse has insisted that the ‘newbies’ will take the team to the next level after impressing on their official debuts on Saturday night.
SuperSport were the first team to be sent packing in the MTN8 after losing 3-1 to defending champions Orlando Pirates at a near-sold out Orlando Stadium two days ago. Having dragged the match to extra-time, SuperSport will feel hard done by. They had put up a good fight, thanks to the impact of the new players.
Vincent Pule, Brooklyn Poggenpoel, Pogisa Sanoka, Keanin Ayer and Nyiko Mobbie all made their first starts and appearances for the club after joining in the past few weeks. The quintet are expected to play a key role in helping SuperSport be a force to be reckoned with this season as they bring a wealth of experience to the team.
In the past, SuperSport were mostly dependable on youngsters and a dash of seniors, with coach Gavin Hunt lamenting that it made it hard for them to compete with the big guns.
The winds of change have blown through the Tshwane side during the winter transfer window, with the team conducting some serious business in the market. So, considering how the newbies fared against a team of Pirates’ calibre, Arendse insisted that they’ll pose a serious threat and be competitive this campaign.
“They took the team to another level. These players made the team better today in our opinion as the coaching staff,” Arendse explained.
“When you’ve got the likes of (Siphesihle) Ndlovu yet to return to the team, I think that will keep everyone on their toes. I believe they (the newbies) fitted in nicely.
“They offered us a better pressing. When you come up against a team like Pirates, who are comfortable with the ball at their feet, you need people who can press.”
Pule was a standout performer from the SuperSport debutants, the 32-year-old coming back to haunt his former team after scoring the equaliser to cancel out Olisa Ndah’s goal in the first half.
Arendse reserved some special praises for Pule, who showed his footballing prowess, and respect for the club he called home in the past six seasons after his goal.
“He’s a player who is helping your team any day, any day,” Arense said.
“He’s worked with Gavin (Hunt) and I before (at Bidvest Wits), so we know what he’s capable of. Despite his age, he is still young.
“We’ve seen what he can do in pre-season friendlies, in different games. We’ve worked him in different positions around the team.
“And he gives you that support, and he’s got goals in him. My hat’s off to him today for being respectful after scoring against his old club (by not celebrating), which is the right thing to do.
“That’s just the nature of Pule and I think we’re going to have a really good season ahead of us with a player like that.”
Arendse was conducting Matsantsantsa a Pitori’s post-match media duties deep in the bowels of Orlando on behalf of the red-carded head coach, Hunt.
Hunt was sent off by referee Abongile Tom after he remonstrated when Evidence Makgopa scored Pirates’ third goals as he believed Monnapule Saleng was offside when the ball was played.
The 60-year-old was a nuisance for Tom throughout the match, protesting on two occasions when his team didn’t get penalties after the ball struck the outstretched arms of Thabiso Monyane inside the box.
Quizzed on the red card, Arendse explained that they believed that Saleng was offside when the ball was played, although they could have been wrong as they were following live action.
“It’s the nature of the local game, you’re going to get calls like that – whether you get it or whether you don’t get it, whether against or for you, those things are going to happen,” Arendse added.
“As coaches, we always want people to be right up there with the game, the best that they can be, because we demand the best from our players as well. That was the emotions that came through with the remonstrating and unfortunately it led to Gavin’s red card.”