Stellenbosch FC coach Gavin Hunt was full of praise for new striker Wonderboy Makhubu for his role in the 2-1 Nedbank Cup victory over Kaizer Chiefs.
Makhubu recently joined Stellies from Magesi FC during the January transfer window and the 29-year-old lanky centre forward made an immediate impact.
Makhubu was a constant menace to the Chiefs centre backs due to his aerial strength, with Chiefs co-coach Cedrik Kaze admitting his team came second best in the duels.
His performance certainly pleased Hunt, particularly as fellow new loan signing Tshegofatso Mabasa was not available for the Chiefs clash.
“I thought, for me, man of the match, Wonderboy Makuba, I thought he was outstanding,” Hunt said after knocking out the defending champions.
“You know, that’s a proper striker leading the line, you know, in what he did. Proper number nine footballer, something we really need.
“And then he could have scored at the end, you know, which he didn’t, but I thought it was a good performance.”
Winger Devin Titus was the official Player of the Match for his brilliant goal that sealed the tie in Stellenbosch’s favour, but Hunt felt fellow goalscorer Ibraheem Jabaar was equally impressive.
“Best game he’s (Jabaar) had for me. I thought he was excellent. Besides the goal, he was excellent. I thought the two of them in centre midfield were excellent,” Hunt said.
“But I thought there were so many players who played really well, stuck to what we tried to do. And then we got out of it a little bit. After we went 2-0 up, then we got, I thought we got a little bit cocky, and we tried to make it 3 and 4, and then the space becomes big, and that’s when they get good, you know.
“Because they’re playing the spaces, half-spaces, and I thought, once we closed the space back down again, there was no entry there.”
