Latest news with #GavinHunt
IOL News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Hunt embraces youth-first approach in Durban City's top-flight debut
Gavin Hunt, standing alongside club owner Farook Kadodia, believes Durban City's youth-driven approach can unearth future Bafana Bafana stars. Photo: Jehran Naidoo Independent Media Image: Jehran Naidoo Independent Media Durban City head coach Gavin Hunt has thrown his weight behind the youth revolution currently sweeping through the Betway Premiership — and believes the shift will benefit South African football for years to come. The veteran coach will lead newly promoted Durban City in their first-ever top-flight campaign, with survival the immediate priority. But Hunt's blueprint goes beyond staying up — it's about building a team with long-term intent. City's squad features a blend of seasoned professionals and emerging talent, though the emphasis is clearly on youth. Hunt, renowned for his work with young players in previous roles, has doubled down on that approach in KwaZulu-Natal. Daine Klate has taken up the role of coach of the DDC team. He is expected to work closely with Gavin Hunt as they aim to make the transition of players to the senior team seamless. Meanwhile, the Durban team announced the signing of former Cape Town City FC goalkeeper Darren… — The Playbook (@PlaybookAfrica) July 28, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'If you look at the PSL as a whole, the majority of clubs are changing the course of how they want to do things — they're going with a bit more youth,' Hunt told the media. 'I've always done it, but now you see a club like AmaZulu doing the same — they've gone in that direction with players who have speed and explosiveness. You'll see the same at Durban City, with younger squads becoming the norm for one reason or another.' 'You must never be scared to play young players because they'll always improve. We need the experience of older players, of course, but youth is the way to go.' Hunt believes KwaZulu-Natal has always been a hotbed of footballing talent, and now is the time to dig even deeper. 'Durban has always had an abundance of talent from way back, and players from this area have gone on to do big things. Maybe we need to unearth even more by doing what we're doing now.' AmaZulu assistant coach Siboniso Vilakazi welcomed Hunt's arrival in the province, saying it could create a positive ripple effect for youth development across KwaZulu-Natal. 'Our province is one of the richest in terms of talent,' said Vilakazi. 'When you have coaches who understand development and trust youngsters like Hunt, then the province will benefit a lot. 'And not just the province, but the national team as well — because if there's a filtration of good players at the highest level, then Bafana Bafana benefits. We've seen it in the past with the likes of Siyabonga Nomvethe and Sibusiso Zuma.' Durban City have yet to play a minute of Premiership football, but under Gavin Hunt, they already have an identity: youthful, fearless, and focused. The next generation has a platform — and the province is watching.
IOL News
a day ago
- Business
- IOL News
Durban City's Gavin Hunt concerned over loss of identity in SA football
Veteran coach Gavin Hunt will guide Durban City from the technical area in their debut season of the Betway Premiership. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Durban City head coach Gavin Hunt has expressed deep concern over the continued erasure of South African football's identity, following yet another major club sale — this time involving his former side, SuperSport United, now renamed Siwelele FC. Hunt, one of the most successful coaches in the local game, guided SuperSport to three consecutive league titles between 2008 and 2010 and is credited with nurturing a generation of top-flight talent during his time at the Tshwane-based outfit. Fix Football #LetsFixSAFootball Image: Independent Media The sale and rebranding of the club is personal for the veteran mentor — and symptomatic, he believes, of a wider issue plaguing the game. 'Club names should not change, that's the first thing I think is important,' Hunt said. 'If people buy clubs, then they should stay in the city the club is from and carry on from there.' This latest move follows a familiar pattern in South African football — Bidvest Wits, another of Hunt's former clubs and the 2016/17 league champions under his leadership, was also sold and dissolved in 2020, cutting ties with a century-long footballing heritage. 'You cannot build a support base, a stadium or training facilities if you're constantly uprooting clubs,' he added. 'So, if you buy a club, leave it where it is and keep the name so we won't have this [loss of history].' Hunt drew parallels with European giants, where foreign ownership rarely results in such radical overhauls. 'When the (Emirati owners or Saudi owners) buy Manchester City or the Americans buy Manchester United and Liverpool, they remain who they are,' he explained. There's no identities being lost — but we've lost our identity in South African football.' The coach warned that this constant shifting is making it harder for fans to connect with teams, particularly when clubs are moved to entirely different provinces or communities. 'People can't align themselves with these clubs because there's no identity and it's very sad to witness,' he said. Currently leading Durban City in the Betway First Division, Hunt is once again at the helm of a club with historic roots. And as someone who has spent decades shaping the local football narrative, he believes the game must return to prioritising long-term vision over short-term deals. While club sales may sometimes be necessary for financial survival, Hunt argues that preserving legacy, geography, and identity should never be compromised. Because for Hunt, football is more than just 90 minutes on a pitch — it's about building something that lives on for generations.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Gavin Hunt faces early hurdles at Durban City: Balancing old guard with new arrivals
Gavin Hunt says there is a lot of work to be done at Durban City FC Gavin Hunt says there is a lot of work to be done at Durban City FC. Image: Jehran Naidoo Newly arrived Durban City head coach Gavin Hunt is hard at work preparing for the club's Betway Premiership return, with early challenges emerging around squad integration and building a competitive, balanced team. Newly promoted to the top flight, 'The Citizens' begin their campaign away to TS Galaxy on Sunday, 10 August, at Mbombela Stadium. But while the fixture is just around the corner, Hunt's focus is squarely on assembling a team capable of surviving — and thriving — in South Africa's elite division. In typical Hunt fashion, he didn't sugarcoat the situation. 'The challenge is to mix the ones we have and the ones that are coming in and try to get the right balance,' he said during the team's pre-season preparations. 'The bottom line is results. You can say what you like. But we need to get the balance right and the mixture of the players coming in and the existing players right.' 📢Official Announcement Durban City FC is proud to welcome seasoned shot-stopper Darren Keet to the Club for the 2025/2026 Betway Premiership Season! Let's give him a warm #DurbanCityFC welcome!#WelcomeKeet #DurbanCityFC #NewSigning #BetwayPremiership — Durban City FC (@DurbanCity_FC) July 23, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Durban City, despite their spirited promotion run, chose to part ways with the bulk of that squad. Fewer than 15 players were retained, with just 11 or 12 surviving the cut. The club is also promoting a handful of young talents, but Hunt insists the perception that they've stripped the team bare is misguided. 'And the thing that goes around that upsets me a little bit is [when people say] we chopped down everything,' Hunt explained. 'No, we didn't. I think it's 11 or 12 that are staying, plus five or six from the DDC. That's another problem, we need to form a DDC team very quickly because every club has had a DDC team for many years and we haven't.' Indeed, City had no DStv Diski Challenge setup during their time in the lower divisions, and the urgent task of establishing one now is a critical part of their Premier Division transition. 'A club of this nature needs a good DDC team. That's obviously your supply line instead of buying players,' Hunt added, underlining his preference for long-term player development over quick-fix transfers. To accelerate the transition into top-flight life, the club has turned to familiar figures from Hunt's past. Milford FC up next, and it's all square between us👀 Training's underway and the energy is high! Let's get it🌊#DurbanCityFC #kznderby #45minutes — Durban City FC (@DurbanCity_FC) July 24, 2025 Goalkeeper Darren Keet and midfielder Shawn Poggenpoel — both of whom worked with him at either Bidvest Wits or SuperSport United — have already been confirmed. Veteran defender Thulani Hlatshwayo, another trusted soldier from Hunt's Wits days, is currently being assessed before a final decision is made. In the technical area, the club has opted for some continuity. Hunt confirmed that Pitso Dladla, a well-known figure in KwaZulu-Natal football, will continue as his assistant. 'I'll keep Pitso. It's important to work with the locals. He knows the club, the land, and he knows players in KwaZulu-Natal,' Hunt said. 'We're not breaking down everything. I didn't know Pitso. I only got to know him last week and a half, and we have worked well together.' With just weeks to go before their Premiership return, Durban City's preparations are in full swing. There are gaps to close and structures to build, but under Hunt's experienced hand, the project has clear direction — with a few old allies along for the ride.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Hunt's homecoming: Durban City go all out to back their new man
Gavin Hunt poses alongside Durban City chairman Farook Kadodia and a new BMW, courtesy of sponsor Supertech, as he prepares for his latest coaching challenge. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Gavin Hunt is a lover of fine, old and young things in life. As such, expectations are high for him to live his best life at Durban City in the upcoming campaign. Hunt was announced as City's head coach this month, and the club has been pulling out all the stops to satisfy his desires. The Team of Choice pulled a rabbit out of the hat earlier this week, announcing Supertech as their vehicle sponsor – the brand behind luxury automotives such as BMW. Hunt was seen in high spirits during the announcement, posing beside a sizzling new BMW together with club boss Farook Kadodia. But Hunt is not only expected to drive in style off the field. The club is also backing him on the pitch with his favourite wheels – an old and new army. Driven by excellence Our technical team just got handed the keys to a fleet of BMWs powered by our new partners, Supertech Group.#OurCityOurTeam #DurbanCityFC #SupertechGroup — Durban City FC (@DurbanCity_FC) July 22, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading City bolstered the squad with five new signings on Wednesday: Darren Keet, Brooklyn Poggenpoel, Trevor Mokwena, Fredrick Asare and Liam De Kock. Keet, 35, is reuniting with Hunt after the pair worked together at the now-defunct Bidvest Wits, winning the Premiership title during the 2016/17 season. Poggenpoel will also work under Hunt for the second time, having joined him at SuperSport United last season before the coach's departure. The 25-year-old defender will inject young blood into the team, alongside Mokwena, 24, Asare, 26, and De Kock, 24. The reunion phase is expected to continue in the coming days, with Thulani Hlatshwayo and Haashim Domingo reportedly close to signing. Apart from working with tried and tested personnel, Hunt is a nurturer at heart, having unearthed gems such as South Africa's most celebrated export, Benni McCarthy. Hunt finds himself in a favourable position at City, where even his direct superior – technical director Ernst Middendorp – will not interfere in his coaching affairs. Amid reports that the pair would work together, there were concerns about possible clashes, given their strong personalities, expertise and differing points of view. Milford FC up next, and it's all square between us👀 Training's underway and the energy is high! Let's get it🌊#DurbanCityFC #kznderby #45minutes — Durban City FC (@DurbanCity_FC) July 24, 2025 'There won't be any issues at all between the two of them. The important thing is that, specifically, we have Gavin as the head coach,' said Kadodia. 'I have encouraged him (Middendorp) to stay out of the coaching project and focus on the technical director role and on setting up structures for us in the DDC.' With City going all out to back Hunt, the onus is now on him to repay the faith and deliver when it matters most – on the pitch. The season may not yet be underway, but City – like other newly promoted or returning teams – are already being tipped as relegation candidates. Enter Hunt. He must not only prove the doubters wrong but also show that he still has fire in his belly to challenge and compete for honours. Honours do not necessarily mean silverware. They also include building a formidable squad capable of going toe-to-toe with any team in the land. A formidable team not only attracts fans to the stadium but also catches the attention of national team selectors. Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has made it clear he will always select players on merit, regardless of the club they play for. Kadodia will therefore be thrilled to see his team back in the top-flight, as the potential of having his players in the national team reflects positively on the club. When Bongokuhle Hlongwane starred for Bafana while at the club, he was snapped up by MLS side Minnesota United – in a record transfer for City. So, while the club is doing all it can to fulfil Hunt's desires, expectations are also mounting on him to repay the trust that's being shown.
The South African
5 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Hunt reveals why he picked Chiefs over Pirates in 2020
Durban City head coach Gavin Hunt has revealed he had the opportunity to coach Orlando Pirates but chose Kaizer Chiefs instead. After Bidvest Wits was sold in 2020, the 60-year-old coach found himself without a job, but didn't spend much time at home as Amakhosi called. Before the sale, Wits was one of the top teams in the league, having won the league two years prior. Top stars such as Vincent Pule, Thabang Monare, Deon Hotto, Ben Motswari and Thulani Hlatshwayo were sold to the Buccaneers. Hunt revealed that Orlando Pirates were interested in his services around 2020 but chose to join Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs instead. After just one season, the former SuperSport United coach was given the boot with just a few matches remaining. 'I would have stayed there longer [if he joined Pirates] because my guys were there and the way Pirates play suited me more, you know,' Hunt said in a podcast. 'Ja, it was going to happen. Maybe I should have gone there, what a bad mistake, you know.' Hunt stated that he did not join Orlando Pirates because he needed a fresh start and wanted to rebuild a team. 'It wasn't about money or anything. At that time, I felt at Chiefs there was in a better rebuilding phase there and we could build another team.' In 2020, Kaizer Chiefs were banned from signing players for two transfer windows following a Fifa punishment in December over the signing of Malagasy player Andriamirado Aro Hasina Andrianamimanana. Hunt joined the club during that time and was unable to bring in new players. 'I was told that the transfer band would be lifted, hey said 'don't worry, we're going to build a new team' and i went 'that's what i want'. I felt that sometimes when your players are going to Pirates, i thought maybe a clean break…let me go and rebuild another team. I always like building my own team because then I know I'll be successful,' he said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
