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PSL rookies Durban City appoint veteran coach Gavin Hunt: ‘His record speaks for itself'
Durban City have appointed Gavin Hunt as their coach for the 2025-26 season that kicks off in August.
Hunt joins City just under four months after he was fired by the now defunct SuperSport United.
His appointment fills the post that was left vacant when City's management couldn't agree terms with Simo Dladla, who won the club promotion to the first division.
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Durban City have gone for experience in assembling a technical team that will lead the premier division rookies in the 2025-26 season that kicks off in August.
Veteran coach Gavin Hunt will lead that team after the club confirmed his appointment on Wednesday.
🌊Citizens, let's welcome Gavin Hunt. Our New Head Coach. Bringing a winning legacy to our team, our city.
A new chapter begins. 💙 #WelcomeGavinHunt #DurbanCityFC #OurTeamOurCity
— Durban City FC (@DurbanCity_FC) July 9, 2025
Hunt, who has managed more than 1 000 matches in the country's elite league, fills the post that was vacant after Simo Dladla left City.
Dladla and the club's management couldn't agree on a new deal after the coach guided the franchise to the promised land by winning the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
Dladla ended up joining AmaZulu to serve as Arthur Zwane's assistant coach.
Hunt will assume the role with the mandate of retaining City's status in the premier division.
'His record speaks for itself and we believe he is the right person to lead our team in this exciting new era,' said City's chair Farouk Kadodia in a statement.
'His professionalism, football knowledge and winning mentality are exactly what the club needs as we strive to compete at the highest level.'
City are rumoured to be looking at appointing Ernst Middendorp as technical director.
The German has a long history with the club in their previous incarnation as Maritzburg United, before they relocated to Durban and changed their name.
Hunt and Middendorp are among the Premier Soccer League's most experienced coaches. Things, however, didn't end well in their previous jobs.
Hunt was fired just under four months ago at SuperSport United, with the team narrowly avoiding relegation on their last day.
Middendorp's Cape Town Spurs had no such luck. The Cape side was relegated from the first division to the amateur ranks, a season after they were demoted to the Motsepe Foundation Championship from the elite league under the guidance of the German coach.
