Gavin hunting back-to-back TKO titles

minenhle.mkhize@inl.co.za GAVIN Hunt will be out to defend the nations’ pride in the weekend when the action for the Telkom Knockout resumes.

Bidvest Wits are pitted against Baroka FC in the semi finals while Kaizer Chiefs will battle it out with their arch-rivals, Orlando Pirates vin Durban.

Hunt is the only South Africanborn coach left in the tournament. The incumbent Wits coach is up against Zambian Wedson Nyirenda when the teams lock horns on Sunday at 3pm at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Limpopo.

SA coaches have dominated the competition for the past six years with Eric Tinkler, Pitso “Jingles” Mosimane, Gordon Igesund, Clinton Larsen and Allan Freese lifting the trophy.

Julio Lealiwas the last foreign coach to win the TKO – the Brazilian triumphed with Orlando Pirates in 2011.

Hunt will be hoping to make it back-to-back titles, having won last year against Bloemfontein Celtic.

Baroka are no push-overs, though and have already surprised a lot of people in this year’s edition, beating Mamelodi Sundowns in the last stage of the competition.

If Hunt reaches the final he will face either Italian Giovanni Solinas of Chiefs or Serb Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic of Pirates.

The final will be contested on December 8 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

So, Hunt is not only chasing the record of becoming the first SA coach under the Premier Soccer League era to win the back-to-back TKO’s but he is going out to defend the nation’s pride.