Gavin Hunt is a haunted man, not by SuperSport United’s indifference last season but by how he missed a once-in-a-lifetime chance during his time at Kaizer Chiefs.
Chiefs appointed Hunt in September 2020 on a three-year contract; he succeeded Ernst Middendorp.
Despite guiding Chiefs to their first-ever CAF Champions League semi-final, results in domestic competitions remained inconsistent. Hunt only managed 12 wins, 17 draws, and 15 losses in 44 matches.
This ultimately led to his departure, and Hunt was replaced on an interim basis by then-assistant coaches Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard. The veteran mentor then moved to Chippa United, but his stay there was equally short-lived under trigger-happy chairman Siviwe Mpengesi, who is known for being quick to fire coaches.
Hunt, now at the helm of SuperSport United, remains bitter about his Chiefs exit. He suggests the dismissal came prematurely, denying him the chance to see his Champions League strategy through to the semi-final and perhaps even the final.
“Chiefs was fantastic, I got to the semi-finals, and I got fired,” said Hunt. “So I could not take the team to the final.
“That was a real disappointment for me, but it is something that will live with me for the rest of my life, but it is what it is.”
Hunt’s comments came fresh off his graduation ceremony at SAFA House on Friday, where he received his CAF A Diploma Coaching Course qualification. He was among 25 coaches celebrating their completion of the programme.
Hunt described the first CAF A Diploma for elite coaches in South Africa in seven years as an eye-opening experience and expressed that he approached the course with a willingness to learn.
“I came with an open mind, which you have to do with these types of things. It’s been interesting,” he said. “A lot of discussions about football and terminology changes, and all these types of things and technology also changes a lot with football.
