Loan Star Maboe will not be there when SuperSport face Sundowns in Derby

Smiso Msomi

THE UPCOMING Tshwane Derby promises to be a gripping encounter as SuperSport United prepares to take on their crosstown rivals, Mamelodi Sundowns, in the Betway Premiership this Wednesday at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 7.30pm.

However, SuperSport head coach Gavin Hunt has expressed disappointment over the unavailability of new loanee Lebohang Maboe, who recently joined the club from Sundowns.

In a twist of fate that has irked the SuperSport camp, Maboe, who made a deadline-day switch and made a promising debut against AmaZulu, will not be eligible to compete against his parent club due to an agreement that prohibits players on loan from facing their home team.

This ruling adds insult to injury for Hunt, who views Maboe as a pivotal addition to the squad.

“It’s disappointing because I think he adds value to us,” Hunt lamented.

“We saw on Saturday when he played, the half-hour he contributed showcased the quality he can bring to our team.”

This encounter is particularly significant as it marks the second meeting of the season between SuperSport and Sundowns but also carries title-altering permutations.

Their last clash in September ended in a 2-0 defeat for SuperSport, which means the stakes are even higher for Matsatsanta to avenge that result and also disrupts their ambitions of an eighth successive title.

With two Sundowns players on loan at SuperSport – Ricardo Goss and Maboe – the dynamics of the game have shifted notably.

While there has been some flexibility under the leadership of SuperSport CEO Stan Matthews, Hunt is faced with the challenges of making last-minute adjustments to his lineup without the skilled influence of Maboe.

In an intriguing counterpoint, Goss remains eligible to play should Hunt choose to utilise him. Nonetheless, Hunt's options are limited, a reality he candidly noted: “I look at some teams and they play the same XI every week; if you can tell me my starting XI for Wednesday, I'd be a lucky man.”

This uncertainty reflects the struggle many coaches face in maintaining consistency while navigating the injury and fitness challenges that come with the territory.

Matsatsantsa are on a torrid three-game losing streak in the league as part of a four-game winless run and are desperate for a break.

Hunt’s men are the second-lowest-scoring side in the Betway Premiership with only six goals scored in 14 games, only bottom sides Magesi and Richards Bay have a worse record (5).

The arrival of Christian Saile from Kaizer Chiefs has offered Hunt a glimmer of hope but not too much resolve with the Congolese-born striker also looking to revive his career in Pretoria.

Supersport unsurprisingly have been dominated in their head-to-head clashes with Sundowns, winning just once in their last 10 meetings. In that period, the Brazilians have won six and drawn the other three clashes, a trend SuperSport will be eager to buck this time around.