Orlando Pirates not chasing Gavin Hunt – Floyd Mbele

Orlando Pirates administrative officer Floyd Mbele has refuted claims the club are considering a move for former Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt.

Josef Zinnbauer has fallen out of favour with a significant number of fans and many believe he will be fired at the end of the season.

Orlando Pirates not chasing Gavin Hunt

Mbele made it clear that Orlando Pirates had no plans to appoint Hunt at this stage.

“The trouble is, I am hearing [about hiring Hunt] for the first time. I don’t know anything about that,” Mbele said on Saturday. 

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“I don’t pay too much credence to social media. Half the people there don’t know what they are talking about, that’s one.

“Two is that something you must always have at the back of your mind is that it’s not often that a Pirates coach is announced by anybody except the club. 

“That is why I’m saying that once you start putting names, then you must know it’s not true. Our coaches are never leaked.  

“And besides, we have a standing coach whose contract ends next season. It’s just mischief-making. Anybody who wants to suggest anything of that sort, it’s just mischief-making.”

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Mbele suggested that Zinnbauer could still save his job by securing a top-two finish.

“It’s premature to be able to reflect on the season in total; because you have to take everything into account, including injuries to key players, the size of the squad in relation to our participation in Caf [competitions],” Mbele continued.

“Because it’s not just the coach who must account on the field — there are also other components within the club that must also be able to give reports.  

“Let me put it this way: assuming we played the next three games and don’t make the top two, then you will sit subconsciously and say, ‘Look, we’ve underachieved.’  

“You win the next games, you finish second, and you think, ‘We won the MTN8, we are second and back in the Champions League, came out in the quarterfinals of Caf Confederation Cup – maybe the season is not all bad as all that.'”