Gavin Hunt and Kaizer Chiefs at transfer targets loggerheads

Gavin Hunt, coach of Kaizer Chiefs reacts during the DStv Premiership 2020/21 match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, on 25 April 2021 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Gavin Hunt: “I never wanted Kaizer Chiefs job” 

Current SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt, had possibly one of the most torrid stints as a Kaizer Chiefs coach, a couple of seasons ago.

Gavin Hunt and Kaizer Chiefs at transfer targets loggerheads

Gavin Hunt, coach of Kaizer Chiefs reacts during the DStv Premiership 2020/21 match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, on 25 April 2021 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Current SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt, had possibly one of the most torrid stints as a Kaizer Chiefs coach, a couple of seasons ago.

READ | ORLANDO PIRATES STRIKER IN TALKS TO LEAVE THE CLUB

Hunt joined Chiefs amid a lot of optimism due to his reputation and pedigree in the local game, but it was not to be for the veteran mentor at Naturena. 

Transfer ban didn’t make life easier for Hunt

It certainly did not help Hunt’s cause that he arrived at Chiefs, during their transfer window ban from FIFA, which prevented him from registering players. That meant his job was made much harder as he couldn’t immediately rope in the likes of Phathutshedzo Nange, Kgaogelo Sekgota and Sifiso Hlanti, who were his trusted soldiers at former club Bidvest Wits.

READ | WAS MONNAPULE SALENG REALLY CLOSE TO JOINING KAIZER CHIEFS? TRUTH REVEALED!

In the end, he would end up not being able to reunite with those players, as by the time they could officially be registered as Chiefs players, Hunt had long been shown the door. The Glamour Boys had struggled with a lack of quality in the league, while their closest rivals such as Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns had all strengthened significantly. Funny enough, his team seemed to respond best to his tactics during their African excursion, as he managed to help the team reach the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League, before current coaching duo Arthur Zwane and Dillon Shephard lead them to the final. 

Claims he never wanted Chiefs job

In the end, that run was not enough to save Hunt’s job at Chiefs, with the veteran ending up sacked before the season came with the conclusion. After another difficult job at Chippa United, he eventually ended up back at SuperSport where he was a successful league winner in his previous stint. Recently though, he gave a very honest statement on his thought process ahead of taking up the Chiefs job.

READ | KAIZER CHIEFS PLANS FOR BRADLEY CROSS REVEALED? HERE IS THE LATEST

“Two years ago I really had the biggest blow in my football career when Wits got sold, we were all in the bubble (during the last part of the 2019/20 season), we were in the hotel for six weeks, locked away and we were told we don’t have jobs,” Hunt said On the Whistle podcast.  

“That was the biggest blow in my playing, coaching career and everything. So it was really downer side and everyone was being sold off like meat and I was the last one who got the job. I took the job (Chiefs) that I didn’t really want because I knew all the mine fields you are going to get to those types of jobs.”.

Strong start at SuperSport

It is now safe to say Hunt is now in a better place, as he has led SuperSport to third place, on the DStv Premiership log, above Chiefs at the half way mark.