Gavin Hunt
By Sello Masilo
SuperSport United has reportedly fired head coach Gavin Hunt following a string of poor results that have left the club dangerously close to relegation. According to reports, the club’s management held an emergency meeting on Thursday, where the decision to dismiss the veteran coach was finalised.
While SuperSport United has yet to make an official announcement, reports from Sunday World and Briefly News suggest that assistant coach Andre Arendse has been appointed as the interim manager to guide the team for the remainder of the season.
A Season of Unfulfilled Ambitions
At the start of the season, SuperSport United had high hopes of challenging Mamelodi Sundowns for the DStv Premiership title. The club invested heavily in new signings and aimed to close the gap on their cross-town rivals. However, those ambitions quickly turned into a nightmare as the team suffered 10 losses in 22 games, leaving them second from bottom and in serious danger of relegation.
Despite securing a 4-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs last month, the team failed to build on that momentum. Subsequent defeats to Magesi FC and TS Galaxy further deepened their crisis, and a heartbreaking Nedbank Cup exit to Orlando Pirates on penalties only increased the pressure on Hunt.
With the club’s form in freefall and fan frustration growing, the board reportedly decided that a managerial change was necessary to avoid an unthinkable drop to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
The End of Hunt’s Second Spell at SuperSport United
Gavin Hunt’s second tenure at SuperSport United has now ended in disappointment. The 60-year-old is widely regarded as one of South African football’s greatest coaches, having won multiple titles across different clubs.
• Hunt first managed SuperSport United between 2007 and 2013, leading the club to three consecutive PSL titles from 2007 to 2010.
• In 2017, he guided Bidvest Wits to a surprise PSL title, defeating bigger-spending rivals.
• He later had an infamous stint at Kaizer Chiefs in 2020, where he struggled due to a FIFA transfer ban and was sacked before the end of the season.
• Hunt briefly managed Chippa United before making a highly anticipated return to SuperSport United in 2022.
However, his second spell at the club failed to replicate his earlier success. The team initially showed promise, but poor signings, inconsistency, and tactical struggles saw them fall down the league table.
DJ Pots’ Prediction: Hunt’s Fate Sealed Weeks Ago?
Football analyst DJ Pots, also known as Free State soccer commentator Mzwandile Sontyale, predicted Hunt’s potential exit weeks before his sacking.
In an exclusive interview with Central News on 18 February 2025, DJ Pots stated:
🔴 “Gavin Hunt may not last at SuperSport United beyond this season” 🔴
His prediction gained traction among football fans as SuperSport United’s results continued to decline. Many supporters believe that Hunt’s dismissal was inevitable given the team’s struggles.
Hunt’s Legacy and Recent Milestone
Despite his recent struggles, Hunt remains one of the most successful coaches in PSL history.
• He is one of only three coaches to have won three consecutive league titles.
• He has managed over 1,000 professional matches, a milestone he reached earlier this year.
• His tactical expertise and leadership are still highly regarded, even if his latest tenure at SuperSport United ended in failure.
Football fans and analysts believe that Hunt will likely find another coaching job soon, with some suggesting a return to a struggling PSL team or a move into football punditry.
Mixed Reactions from Fans and Players
The reaction to Hunt’s sacking has been divisive among SuperSport United fans.
• Some blame him for the team’s poor form and believe that a fresh managerial approach is necessary to avoid relegation.
• Others argue that the players and the club’s recruitment strategy failed him, rather than his tactics or coaching ability.
On social media, fans debated whether Hunt was given enough time. A viral tweet on X (formerly Twitter) read:
“Gavin Hunt is still a top coach. The players let him down. SuperSport United is finished if they think a new manager will fix things instantly.” – @trevor_mnini
Meanwhile, players have remained relatively silent on Hunt’s departure. However, some insiders suggest that senior players were unhappy with his rigid tactics and that tension in the dressing room contributed to the decision.
SuperSport United’s Relegation Fight: Can Andre Arendse Save Them?
With only nine games remaining, SuperSport United’s battle for survival is now in the hands of interim coach Andre Arendse.
• The former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper has been part of the SuperSport United technical team for several years.
• He previously took charge as caretaker coach in 2022 when Kaitano Tembo was sacked.
Arendse now has the tough task of securing enough points to avoid relegation, with key matches against fellow strugglers like Cape Town Spurs, Richards Bay, and Moroka Swallows coming up.
A club insider revealed:
“The management believes Andre Arendse can bring stability. He knows the players and the system, so it made sense to appoint him for now.”
However, SuperSport United is also actively searching for a permanent manager, with rumours linking former Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer to the job.
A Bigger Crisis at SuperSport United?
While Hunt’s sacking is the headline story, some believe that the club’s problems go deeper than just the coach.
• Poor squad planning: SuperSport United lost key players in recent transfer windows and failed to replace them with top-quality signings.
• Financial struggles: Unlike rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, SuperSport United operates on a smaller budget, making it harder to compete at the top.
• Inconsistent performances: The club has produced some brilliant wins but also suffered shocking defeats, making them one of the league’s most unpredictable teams.
What’s Next for SuperSport United and Gavin Hunt?
For SuperSport United:
• Appoint a permanent manager before the start of the next season.
• Avoid relegation at all costs to maintain their status as a top-flight team.
• Improve squad depth and bring in new signings to compete with bigger clubs.
For Gavin Hunt:
• Potential return to coaching with another PSL team.
• Move into punditry or coaching consultancy.
• Take a break from football after a long and challenging season.
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