Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt open to signing Thandani Ntshumayelo

Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt says former Orlando Pirates  midfielder Thandani Ntshumayelo knows how to play football, but he just needs to run and reach the desired fitness levels.

Bibo has been training with the Clever Boys since September following a successful appeal after he was banned for four years for using cocaine in 2016.

“He’s doing fine. He’s coming back, and he’s got the quality, and he’s still young enough. So, we’ll see how he continues,” Hunt told reporters on Tuesday.

The reigning Telkom Knockout Cup winning coach previously worked with the Heilbron-born midfielder at SuperSport United, and jokingly said the nippy player must run from Cape Town to Johannesburg to get back to full fitness.

“We need to drop him in Cape Town and let him run back to Joburg for a week, but otherwise he’s alright. Every day we take the kombi (taxi), take him five to eight kilometres – I think now it’s getting to about 40kms,” he added.

“He just needs running. He knows how to play football, I’m not going to tell him much. He’s got an understanding and he’s got experience now from when I had him (at SuperSport),” responded the coach.

On whether the ex-Bafana Bafana player could land a contract with the Braamfontein-based club, Hunt said that will all depend on their budget, but he is open to signing the 28-year-old midfielder.

“I hope so (he signs). I think so. It’s not a bad call. I don’t know if we’ve got the budget, that’s going to be a problem. But I told him he’s going to play for nothing. He must pay me,” joked Hunt.

Meanwhile, the Johannesburg-based giants are on the road this Sunday afternoon as they visit Baroka FC in the Telkom Knockout Cup semi-final clash, and will target a win to book their place in the final.

A victory for Wits will see them reach the final for the second successive season and set up a date with Pirates or Chiefs, who will lock horns in the other semi-final match at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon.