Pitso Mosimane Gavin Hunt

Pitso Mosimane and Gavin Hunt share a moment back in the day. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Gavin Hunt admits he is ‘missing’ coaching

Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt has hinted on social media that he is missing the feeling of being closely involved in the game.

Pitso Mosimane Gavin Hunt

Pitso Mosimane and Gavin Hunt share a moment back in the day. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

In May last year, Kaizer Chiefs released Hunt from his contract after a string of poor results with the club, although he had led Amakhosi to the semi-final of the CAF Champions League.

After a brief move to Chippa United, Hunt is now without a job, and recently told Soccer Laduma he is keeping his options open, while suggesting he would love to take on a new coaching challenge if the culture was the right fit.

The experienced coach recently spent some time at Manchester City in what was an “upskilling” trip to England, but Phakaaathi reports that he won’t step into a new coaching gig without due diligence.

“He is not in a hurry for a new job. He has had a few clubs coming to ask about his availability but he is not too keen. He wants a club that will need him and allow him to work in his own way by bringing the kind of players that he wants,” said a Phakaaathi source.

“I heard that even Simba SC of Tanzania have made enquiries about him recently and that could be where he goes if they reach an agreement on working conditions.”

Recently Hunt reiterated that he didn’t see value in necessarily pushing his CV out there.

“No, I am not sending CVs. I went to the Bafana job three times for an interview…what do you want a CV for? They either want you or they don’t want you, I must send a CV? A CV for what? It’s like a player, you go on trial and they say yes or no,” said Hunt.

Taking to social media, Hunt has now suggested he is missing the game, and it will be interesting to see whether he could begin to push for a new job opportunity.

Not long ago Pitso Mosimane acknowledged all the successes Hunt achieved over the last 30 years of his coaching career, and feels the four-time PSL winner – who is soon set to spend more time at Manchester City – needs a change of environment.

“Gavin Hunt, big respect for you. You have won all SA trophies. History archived. Come feel the waters in this region where I am (tough though) and you might like it,” wrote Mosimane on Twitter.

“When we day off, I will ask my friend’s Yacht to take us over the Mediterranean for fishing and dolphin watching,” said Mosimane.

In response, Hunt offered a somewhat playful request for Mosimane to find him a job.

“I am dying to come there! Get me a job I am so proud of all you’ve achieved. I see the results every week. So happy for you. Get that yacht ready!”

Meanwhile, Hunt has revealed how things went awry at Chiefs

“I was told – I won’t say who the person was – I was told ‘we’d rather come sixth in the league and be knocked out first round of the Champions League,’” Hunt told Diski Talk With Luyolo.

“So I said ‘well, then you got the wrong coach’. Because there’s no ambition. I said ‘I can’t go on two fronts here. We can’t, we don’t have the squad.’ We playing Saturday in Guinea, we arriving back here Monday and we playing Tuesday or Wednesday in Durban. The squad is not [big enough], we can’t do.

“Either, we go here or we go there and I saw a gap. I saw a gap because the Champions League for me, the African Champions League, the only thing that is tough is the conditions but it’s overrated. So if you can handle all the nonsense that goes on and you’re strong mentally and all that you will be okay.”

Hunt felt he could have achieved success with Chiefs.

“I was disappointed because I was two games away off turning this thing around for next season. I’m very disappointed and obviously there in the [leadership] camp, they must have been for and they must have been against. And maybe it was more against [me],” he added.

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