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SuperSport raring to go

Pretoria - Newly appointed SuperSport United coach Cavin Johnson says his players are raring to go ahead of the PSL season which kicks off on Friday.

With their pre-season preparations having come to an end, Johnson was excited about the start of his maiden campaign with Matsatsantsa.

"The preparations are looking very good for the new season," Johnson said on Monday.

"There's been a good input from all the players.

"It's shown a lot in different ways, in as far as playing style is concerned.

"We can play the type of football I want us to play, and credit must go to the players.

"There have been some very good technical players within the team."

Johnson, who replaced Gavin Hunt at United during the off-season, after guiding unfancied Platinum Stars to second place in the previous league campaign, begins his reign with a tricky fixture against Free State Stars in Atteridgeville on Saturday.

"The fact that we are playing at home gives us a slight advantage over Free State Stars," he said.

"The game plan will not change (from pre-season results).

"I stick to the way I'd like to play football.

"But we know what Free State Stars are all about.

"We know how Steve (Komphela) normally likes to play his game."

United will look to improve on last season's performance, after finishing a disappointed sixth, 16 points behind eventual winners Kaizer Chiefs.

"I want to win the league.

"You ask any coach in the PSL, we all want to win," Johnson said.

"With the calibre of player at SuperSport, the technical quality, the mentality, the facilities, yes we have the right type of product to win the league.

"When you coach in the PSL, it's a norm for you to coach as hard as you can, as best as you can and to win as many games as you can."

Johnson confirmed Bevan Fransman would lead the team this season, preferring the Bafana Bafana international defender to Thabo September, who skippered the side last season.

"As with any team, you have senior and junior players.

"The senior players teach the younger players what a team is all about.

"Bevan has always been integral to the team and Bevan will always be captain.

"He has a good ethos and an excellent understanding of what the club is all about."

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