'Horrendous, you go to jail' - SuperSport United's Gavin Hunt cautions Orlando Pirates coach ahead of Kaizer Chiefs clash

SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt has shared what he thinks should have happened when Orlando Pirates legend Siyabonga Mpotshane injured Abubaker Nassir a while ago. 

Nassir has become Matsatsantsa's latest signing after joining the club from Mamelodi Sundowns on a one-year loan contract.

The Ethiopian international suffered a serious and career-threatening injury following a horror challenge from Mpotshane in December 2022. 

Ahead of SuperSport United's much-anticipated clash against Kaizer Chiefs, Hunt expressed his opinion about the Nassir and Mpontshane matter.  

"I don’t know Lorenz, I don’t know, I can’t really tell you about the inside but I think it’s a year loan deal, and obviously we will try and get him fit you know, he’s had major problems,” Hunt said, as quoted by iDiski Times. 

"It was a horrendous tackle on the boy, the Pirates goalkeeper, you go to jail for those types of things. But yeah, it’s unfortunate, he’s been in and out and I think they moved a foreigner off their books but it doesn’t help us if someone is not fit to play.

"If we get that guy [that we saw on his debut against Chiefs] if we can have that guy, we know there’s a bit of pace in him, which is what we need, he can play in a front three, I think he can play in a front two. I don’t think he can play by himself but yeah. But he can give us options if he’s fit, but it’s no good if he’s not fit you know,'' explained the former Bidvest Wits coach.

"He hasn’t played (much) in two years, not fit – hasn’t kicked a ball, so it’s really I don’t know, we will have to see, but we have more time again because the fixtures have changed again, we play on Wednesday and then not for a month again,” he added.

"It’s until the end of November again, it’s absolutely crazy but hopefully we can get someone fit, it’s not just about the strikers, but the construction of players in certain positions that aren’t available and we can’t afford to have one or two out. The squads we play against can afford to have four or five out and change and not look any different you know."

Nassir, who was poised as one of the most promising talents on the African continent when he joined Sundowns in 2022, only played 17 games for the club before the horrible injury happened. 

Joining SuperSport United, where he is regarded as a top signing, the 24-year-old star could regain his confidence this season. 

On the other hand, Mpotshane, 38, is currently an assistant to the Sea Robbers' senior team goalkeeper coach Tyron Damons.

Moreover, Matsatsantsa have had a bad start to the season - having lost five matches, drawn one, and registered one win in all competitions so far. 

Hunt and his troops will be desperately hoping to claim maximum points against Chiefs after a disastrous start to the 2024/25 season. 

Should SuperSport United lose to the mighty Amakhosi, the coach will be under huge pressure although United's hierarchy is known for not firing coaches.