SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt has praised the contribution that his new signings have made to his young squad in the early stages of the new season, even if the club lost away on the weekend in the Betway Premiership at Cape Town City.
SuperSport added five new players to their squad before the start of the campaign in a conscious effort to make them stronger.
“(Nyiko) Mobbie’s come in, he's been magnificent. We've done a good business there. (Pogiso) Sanoka has come in. He’s been brilliant. (Brooklyn) Poggenpoel's young, although he was playing a bit at Chippa before.”
Last season Hunt gave debuts to 13 players who had come through the club’s academy but felt they needed some direction from more experienced footballers in the new season.
“We've got a lot of young players, so, obviously we try to get the balance right. Why did we drop off in the second round (of last season’s league campaign)? Because we needed a little bit more experience,” said Hunt.
The impact of the new players is made even more important as SuperSport have injury problems. Top scorer Bradley Grobler has suffered a long-term groin injury and it is not clear when he will return to action.
“It could be December, could be January. He's walking now, but it means walking,” said Hunt.
“Jones Lungu is injured; (Vincent) Pule shouldn’t have played (against Cape Town City), he’s injured. Grant Margeman won’t play this season after doing his ACL in pre-season. Those are big players. Those are starters.”
But SuperSport are looking at the injury-prone former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Abubeker Nasir.
“He hasn’t played for two years, we have to get him fit, get him stronger. Hopefully, you know, we can have him sort of here and there, but it's a problem. You know, we’ve scored one goal in four games now,” added Hunt.