Exclusive: Gavin Hunt on 1,000 PSL Games, Load Shedding Woes, and the Addiction of Winning
SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt has reached a remarkable milestone with 1,000 games in the PSL, a feat few will ever achieve. When factoring in his 150+ first-division matches, Hunt cements his legacy as one of South Africa’s greatest football coaches.
“I only found out about the milestone two weeks ago. But this comes and goes. I’ve also done another three years in the first division, which obviously don’t count—that’s another 300-plus games easy!”
The veteran coach reflected on his journey in football.
“You don’t realize these things; they come up so quickly. One game after another, one season ends, and another starts. It’s like a hamster on a wheel—you just keep going. That’s life… it is what it is,” he told SportsBoom.co.za.
Not One for Celebrations
When asked whether he takes time to reflect on his PSL career, Hunt admitted that he isn’t sentimental about milestones.
“I’m not big on celebrations. Maybe one day, I’ll sit down and look back. Even with memorabilia, I have so much stuff, but I don’t even know where the majority of it is.”
Load shedding Cuts Short Hunt’s 1000th Game
South Africa’s ongoing load shedding crisis played a frustrating role in cutting Hunt’s 1,000th PSL game short against Golden Arrows.
“Loadshedding in South Africa is frustrating. I heard Eskom cut the power supply to the stadium, and I was quite surprised. It just breaks the rhythm of things. We started well and scored early.”
The game was halted for 10–15 minutes before resuming, only for Golden Arrows to equalize immediately afterward.
“I was like, what’s going on here? We just lost all rhythm. The game should’ve carried on because five minutes after the referee called it off, the lights came back on with the generator. It was disappointing… a bit of an anti-climax.”
Hunt also shared his frustration over the unpredictability of the power crisis.
“Everyone has their own views on load shedding. We hadn’t had it for 300 days, and suddenly, we’re back to Stage 6 [six hours of power cuts per day]. I don’t even think Eskom knows what’s going on.”
Memories in the PSL
With a 27-year coaching career spanning nine different teams, Hunt has secured four PSL titles and four domestic trophies.
“Somebody asked me this week what my standout moments were, and honestly, I don’t really know. Winning trophies stands out, of course, but it’s so difficult to win in football—there are so many competitive teams.”
Despite his success, Hunt admitted that winning is an addiction rather than a moment to savor.
“Winning games gives me a kick, but that feeling only lasts 20–30 minutes after the match, then you’re onto the next game. For me, winning is like a drug, I need a fix every week. I was the same when I was a player.”
South African Coaches in Europe
While South African players have thrived in Europe, coaching opportunities remain scarce. The most notable exception is Benni McCarthy, currently an assistant coach at Manchester United.
When asked if more South African coaches could make it in Europe, Hunt was candid.
“In the global football world, we [South Africa] are so far behind, mainly because of our geography. We do have some well-qualified coaches who’ve done well.”
He believes South African coaches are judged primarily on their national team’s performance, which has struggled since Bafana Bafana’s 1998 World Cup appearance.
“If you look at South African rugby, their coaches are thriving overseas—coaching in England, Scotland, France, and Japan. But in football, our national team hasn’t been at the forefront for a long time. We are slowly coming back, and Hugo Broos has done a great job so far. But for our domestic coaches, people assume South Africa has no coaching talent.”
Pitso Mosimane Leading the Way
Hunt credited Pitso Mosimane for opening doors internationally.
“Pitso has done a phenomenal job. Winning the CAF Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns helped him land the Al Ahly job, the biggest club in Africa. From there, you can work your way up. He speaks Greek, so a move to France or Greece is possible. People in those regions should know him.”
He also praised Rhulani Mokwena for testing the waters in Morocco.
“Rhulani going to Morocco is brilliant. The challenge with Sundowns is, where do you go from there? Maybe Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates? But Sundowns have such financial power that they dominate domestically.”
Hunt admitted he never got the opportunity to coach at a club capable of winning the Champions League, except once when he reached the final.
Women in the PSL
South African football remains largely male-dominated, and Hunt was asked whether women could break into managerial and coaching roles in the PSL.
“To be honest, I don’t see it happening. Maybe as an assistant coach, but I don’t think a woman will coach a men’s PSL side. Even in the English Premier League, which is the biggest promoter of diversity, if it happened there, I’d be surprised.”
He did, however, acknowledge that women might have an advantage in coaching styles.
“I think women are better coaches than men, they have more patience, they might explain things better, and they’re more disciplined.”
But when it comes to leading a men’s team, he remains sceptical.
“I’ve never had a woman as a coach, so I don’t know what that experience would be like. Maybe it will happen in the future, but I don’t think it’ll happen in South Africa anytime soon.”
A Legendary Career Still Going Strong
Despite the loadshedding drama and his humble attitude towards milestones, Gavin Hunt remains one of South Africa’s greatest football minds. With 1,000 PSL matches under his belt, his passion for the game remains unwavering.
And as Hunt himself puts it: “For me, winning is like a drug I need a fix every week.”