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Igesund has the bullets, but can he hit the target?

SuperSport United have planted the seeds for coach Gordon Igesund to succeed this season. 

But failure to win the league would be seen as underachieving, and could mean the exit door. 

Pressure is on the multiple league-winning mentor to replicate what he has done before, winning the Absa Premiership title with Manning Rangers, Orlando Pirates, Santos and Mamelodi Sundowns. 

Matsatsantsa a Pitori have gone five seasons without the title after clinching it in three successive seasons. 

Club chairperson Khulu Sibiya last week did not mince his words, proclaiming that Igesund would have no excuses if he failed to take them to the promised land. 

He won the Telkom Knockout last season, but that will count for nothing if he fails in the championship. Sibiya made it clear it was the league title they were after. 

United have made their intentions clear by bringing in former Bafana captain Bongani Khumalo to bolster their defence along with the current skipper, Dean Furman. They have also acquired the services of Grant Kekana,

Michael Boxall, Isaka Cernak and Phumelele Bhengu, who finished as last season’s top scorer in the National First Division, with 22 goals. 

Earlier in the year, United signed Kingston Nkhatha from Kaizer Chiefs and New Zealander Jeremy Brockie – who became an instant hit, finishing as the club’s joint top scorer with 10 goals. 

With all these players at his disposal, United have thrown down the gauntlet to Igesund to achieve what they want, or face the consequences. 

Furman’s arrival also spells trouble for the hard-tackling Michael Morton and Enocent Mkhabela in the middle of the park. The Bafana captain is expected to lead the pack in the midfield as Igesund tries to get one hand on the league trophy, even at this early stage. 

Another player who faces an uncertain future is last season’s captain, Clayton Daniels, who has lost the skipper’s armband to Thuso Phala. 

He is likely to fall down the pecking order in central defence, as Khumalo and Boxall look set to command those positions. 

The former Bafana mentor’s path to reclaiming his former glories has been laid out for him. 

Now begins the arduous and tricky task of walking it.

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