STAMP OF APPROVAL
Rival coaches back Gavin as Chiefs mentor
In what will be his first test as Kaizer Chiefs coach, Gavin Hunt will face Eric Tinkler in the MTN8 quarterfinals next month.
The MTN8 was Hunt’s first piece of silverware as the head coach of Bidvest Wits and ended their six-year barren run four years ago when they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 in the final at Mbombela Stadium.
Chiefs will start their top eight competition with a match against Maritzburg United when the new season gets under way in October.
Hunt will be looking to end Chiefs’ five-year trophy drought with the same title that set the tone for him in his tenure as the head coach of Wits. After that, Hunt went on to win the league and the Telkom Knockout with the Clever Boys.
Four-time Premier Soccer League (PSL) title-winning coach, Gordon Igesund, made a prediction that Hunt would deliver titles at Chiefs as he knows how to win them.
“I think the competition is good between Gavin, me and Pitso [Mosimane], you enjoy those kinds of challenges,” Igesund said.
“The challenge of winning, I think that’s what people strive to be — the best you can be. I think you become a winner when you win titles and championships.”
Igesund, together with Hunt, are sitting on four PSL titles each with Mosimane having won his fifth title at the end of the season.
And Igesund is convinced that Hunt can emulate Mosimane with Chiefs and win numerous titles.
“Gavin, me and the late Ted Dumitru have four and Pitso got to five. It is not easy to win the championship as it takes a lot of hard work. Gavin has got a very good club. He and the supporters and the management at the club want to win titles.
“I think he has got a good chance, Chiefs are very hungry. He is hungry, so let’s see what happens.”
Hunt is aware that he needs to hit the ground running immediately at Amakhosi.
“This is the club which needs to compete, we’ve got a squad of players who need to win the trophy again,” Hunt told the Chiefs media department. “There are few players that won a lot here but are they still hungry enough to still win more?” he asked rhetorically.
Hunt has pedigree to get Chiefs back on track, says Steve Komphela MAHLATSE MPHAHLELE
Golden Arrows coach Steve Komphela says Gavin Hunt is the best available coach in the country to take over the mammoth task of coaching Kaizer Chiefs.
Hunt‚ who will be assisted by Arthur Zwane and Dillion Sheppard‚ took over from Ernst Middendorp last week in a highly publicised move.
The former Bidvest Wits coach faces the challenge of turning around the fortunes of the once mighty Chiefs after years of underachievement and embarrassment.
“With the utmost of respect due to the coaches who were available in the country‚ I don’t think there is anyone more deserving‚” Komphela said.
“It’s going to be very interesting in the league next season with him at Chiefs, but first of all I must take the opportunity to congratulate him and wish him all the best.
“He is a very close friend of mine‚ make no mistake about that.”
Komphela said Hunt has the pedigree and experience to take over at Naturena where they have failed to lay their hands on a major trophy for the past five seasons.
“He deserves a shot as well and he has the pedigree‚” the Arrows coach said.
“I am not going to tell Kaizer Chiefs supporters what do to‚ I am not going to tell Kaizer Chiefs management what to do.
“But all I can say in terms of football is that maybe the best way to move forward faster is to move forward with the one you have. Because if you want to move forward with the one you have at the back of the previous energy‚ you complicate things.
“Gavin Hunt is thick-skinned‚ he is a big boy and he has been in the league for a very long time.
“I just wish he just goes in‚ even though there will always be the review and reflection to say‚ ‘But the previous season’ [where Chiefs were pipped to the post in the final day in 2019/2020 by Mamelodi Sundowns].
“There is nothing you can do about the previous season because it’s gone.
They were almost there last season‚ it was only a matter of 30 minutes and I felt so sorry for Ernst Middendorp.
“Our job is such a thankless job because who could ever go through that.
“You are on top of the log for the entire season and convincingly so; you have a gap of double digits and then you lose it with 30 minutes to go.
“My man‚ I still respect him [Middendorp] for the strength he portrayed.
“But listen, that’s part of the game.”