In the build-up to the 2016/17 Premier Soccer League season, Mazola Molefe interviews the four coaches he believes have a chance to lead their teams to the Absa Premiership title.
Today he features three-time league champion Gavin Hunt, who is looking for his maiden title with Bidvest Wits.
Johannesburg - Gavin Hunt who is now in his fourth season as head coach of Bidvest Wits, says he has brought success to the club.
You might wonder how he has come to that conclusion when the trophy cabinet remains empty.
“We haven’t won anything, but have been successful in terms of points gained in the history of this club and being able to bring in quality players,” is Hunt’s explanation.
Strange remarks for a man who clinched the Premier Soccer League title three times in a row while with SuperSport United between 2008 and 2010, but who has only gone as far as the Nedbank Cup final since his arrival at Milpark.
He is, however, quite aware of rising expectations for a coach with his pedigree and the desire from chief executive José Ferreira as well as big boss Brian Joffe to start winning things. Although the current transfer window shows yet another huge turnover of players at Wits, the type of recruits - even with talisman Sibusiso Vilakazi finally sold to championship rivals Mamelodi Sundowns - suggests Hunt will be giving the title pursuit another go. But does the one-year contract extension signal the crossroad for management and coach?
“It just happened that way. No one really focused on why I was being given one year. We just agreed and I signed,” says Hunt.
“In South Africa, coaches are treated like arranged marriages. You don’t know what you are going to get. You might be happy with them or you might want to get rid of them. I trust the club and they trust me. These are reputable people who understand the game, understand what has been done internally and appreciate the job.
“If you want quick success, then that is not a problem. I also want a chequebook like certain clubs so we can just buy a team, and if I am not successful you can get rid of me. Winning is easy, just let me buy the best. But I think the way we are doing it here is the right way.”
Hunt isn’t afraid to talk title ambitions ahead of his side’s titanic opening clash against Kaizer Chiefs when the new season begins on Tuesday. The coach is a little unhappy with having to play all of Amakhosi, Orlando Pirates (a team they will also face in the MTN8 quarter-finals in between their league fixtures) and defending champions Sundowns in their first six matches. But that’s the hand he has been dealt.
“It’s all computerised, isn’t it? Okay,” Hunt reflects with what is more a sarcastic comment than accepting that is just how things work. He is relaxed at Wits and it seems this helps him put his targets into perspective.
“If ever I must work under fear of losing my job then I am in the wrong business. I will make the right decision for the good of the club. I am not a selfish coach, and there are a lot of them out there who just think about themselves. I have put pressure on myself because I am a winner and have been winning. We haven’t won anything since I have been here because the club I am at needed to change the mentality of being inferior all the time. We have done a lot of work to convince players to join this club, but it takes time.”
Hunt has made 10 signings so far, including the Sundowns duo of Cuthbert Malajila and Mogakolodi Ngele - plus cash - in the sale of Vilakazi. If compared to fellow contenders for the title this season, the Clever Boys look the meanest, but Hunt is not too convinced just yet.
“On paper, I think we have the best quality, but every year has been different for us. If I took a picture when I arrived here four years ago and now, there is no player left,” Hunt explains. “We have a lot of new players again in key positions and that takes a little bit of time. It fits on paper, yes, but will it fit telepathically? Since I have been here we have never had a front-line that is the same for two years in a row. We had James (Keene) and Phakamani (Mahlambi) who were fantastic last season, but when they got injured in the last 10 games, that cost us the league. We haven’t looked good at all during pre-season.”
Saturday Star