SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt is among tacticians feeling the pressure over unimpressive results in the PSL so far this season.
Hunt took offence to a question from a journalist who asked if he should now consider retirement with Matsatsantsa in 12th position, having just won four of their 17 PSL games, drawing five and losing eight.
SuperSport last won in the league on December 14, when they beat Magesi FC 1-0, and what has followed has been four defeats and two draws.
There have been two wins in between, both in the Nedbank Cup, a 2-0 victory over Magesi and Wednesday’s shootout victory over Cape Town Spurs, that secured their ticket into the quarter-final.
SuperSport are also the lowest scorers in the PSL, having managed just seven goals in 17 matches, leading to questions over Hunt’s future.
“When I hear that, I get very offended because I mean…I must be careful what I say here,” the 60-year-old told iDiski Times when asked whether it was time to call time on his illustrious coaching career.
What does the future hold for Hunt?
“But you can put all the managers together and they’ve not won what I won. So now you are going to throw me away because of 10 bad games with the other 900 games having been good? You’ve got to be very careful.”
Hunt is right as no PSL tactician has the CV to match his, having won three league titles and Nedbank Cup with SuperSport in his first stint from 2007-2013, led Bidvest Wits to three trophies, including a league title, and has also coached Black Leopards, Moroka Swallows, Kaizer Chiefs and Chippa United.
The veteran started coaching in 1985 and has worked in South Africa, England, Japan and the Scandinavia. This is Hunt’s second stint at SuperSport and after a seventh-place last season, it has been tough this term.
That has inevitably led to questions about his future and as it is in football, when results are not positive, no one remembers past achievements.
SuperSport boss Stanley Matthews has not commented over Hunt’s position but if the results do not improve, the conversation will shift to when rather than if the coach is shown the door.
If that happens, who is out there that could potentially fill in the big shoes?
Kwanele Kopo
Kwanele Kopo left Chippa United in December after turning down a new contract, citing personal reasons.
He left the club in ninth position but he had demonstrated great tactical acumen during his one-year stint while his team played attractive football.
Kopo understands SuperSport very well, having previously worked at the club, and would be a good fit if Hunt was to leave. The tactician confirmed this week that he has received offers from both the PSL and lower leagues which he is still weighing.
Benni McCarthy
Another highly-rated coach without a job, South Africa’s all-time leading scorer Benni McCarthy has been free since leaving Premier League side Manchester United in June 2024.
McCarthy has previously lamented how he was overlooked for big jobs in South Africa and it is not clear if this would be attractive to him.
However, the former Cape Town City and AmaZulu coach has been heavily linked with the Kenya national team job which could likely be his next destination.
Eric Tinkler
Former Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler is reported to be in talks with Sekhukhune United but could the SuperSport job be appealing?
Tinker spent three years at Cape Town when he managed to lead the club to the CAF Champions League in the 2021-22 season and finished fifth last term.
However, he struggled to get a tune out of his team this season, with the many new signings failing to sparkle, leading to his departure in January when they were in 12th position.
Clinton Larsen
Former Magesi FC coach Clinton Larsen left the club with his stock high after a surprise Carling Knockout trophy win at the expense of Mamelodi Sundowns in the final last November.
However, he was gone by December after failing to replicate the cup heroics into the PSL where his team was and still is second from bottom with only suspended Royal AM worse off.
Larsen, however, said he did not get the necessary support in terms of signings after bringing the side into the top flight, leading to the struggles, and there is a feeling he could do much better with a more talented squad like Matsatsanta’s.
He has also revealed this week that he is now ready for another job in the PSL.
Manqoba Mngqithi
Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi is another high-profile name who would fit into the SuperSport job.
Mngqithi was sacked in December 2024, with Miguel Cardoso succeeding him, but he left Sundowns top of the PSL although it is believed the Carling Knockout final loss, MTN8 semi-final exit and poor start in the Champions League group stage were the main reasons for his departure.
The former Golden Arrows coach possess enough experience at the top level that would serve him well but with his Sundowns connections, it is not known if he would be welcomed with both arms across the city.
