JOHANNESBURG – Gavin Hunt on Wednesday morning claimed the Coach of the Month of May accolade while still very fresh from celebrating leading Bidvest Wits to their first ever Premier League title two weeks ago.
It was his maiden award for the 2016/17 campaign, having missed out during the long marathon of the Absa Premiership title race.
With four wins out of their six league matches from the dramatic finish to the season, the Clever Boys were eventually crowned champions after beating Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Maritzburg United and Polokwane City.
They did stumble against bogey side Free State Stars along the way, but held their nerve until the end. Wits also lost to Kaizer Chiefs, but that game was an exhibition match seeing that they had already done enough to seal the title.
Hunt: "When we lost that game at Free State Stars and Sundowns drew against Baroka- I think that was the turning point." #AbsaPrem
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) May 31, 2017
Hunt said: “It is always important to be consistent and we know next year is going to be tougher because everybody around us is going to improve. We had a good group of players and in the end we did enough to get the trophy.”
Photo: Gavin Barker, BackpagePix
To show that Wits finished strong, Hunt was also flanked by goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs, who was picked as the Goalkeeper of the Month despite only playing eight games this season, but they were matches that counted and got them over the line to win the league.
Moeneeb Josephs: "I was just happy that I could help the team. To play my part towards the Championship." #AbsaPrem
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) May 31, 2017
Meanwhile, Siphiwe Tshabalala of Chiefs received a gong for the Goal of the Month for April, for his strike against SuperSport United in a 2-2 draw played in Nelspruit.
Tshabalala: "I am a team player, so I am not too happy about individual awards if the team hasn't done well." #AbsaPremGoal #AbsaPrem
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) May 31, 2017