Gavin Hunt has delivered a blunt assessment of a Kaizer Chiefs loanee at SuperSport United, declaring the player “needs a lot of work” while also implying that he wasn’t part of the loan decision.
Hunt was addressing the media after guiding SuperSport to their biggest win of the season, smashing Amakhosi 4-1 in a Betway Premiership encounter on Tuesday at FNB Stadium.
The result represents Chiefs’ biggest loss in the Betway Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign. Of course, the Soweto giants have previously lost 4-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns, but it was in a Carling Knockout Cup fixture.
In his honest take on Chiefs loanee Christian Saile, currently at Matsatsantsa, ‘Huntie’ admitted there was still a lot of work to do to improve the Congolese forward.
The 25-year-old winger joined the Tshwane side as part of a deal that saw Tashreeq Morris move in the other direction.
While he left his parent club without a goal, Saile has already scored two goals for Hunt’s side after four appearances. His first goal came in the Nedbank Cup, in a 2-0 win over Magesi FC, while his second was against his parent club Chiefs.
WHAT HUNT SAID ABOUT KAIZER CHIEFS’ CHRISTIAN SAILE
“Christian was never in our thought process; he was never to come here. He just got thrown in my lap to say, ‘Listen, Morris is going, and we’re getting Saile’,” said Hunt. “So I said, ‘Oh okay, what am I going to do with him?”. I have to try and find what to do with him, but he’s got two or three goals now.
“He needs a lot of work. There are a lot of things you need to do, but he’s not our player. I think he goes back to [Chiefs]. I’m not sure. I’m not in the boardroom.”
The veteran coach, who sat in the dugout for the 999th time on Tuesday night, mentioned that he first introduced Saile to the culture of SuperSport when he joined the team.
Hunt said a significant aspect of what the former Nchanga Rangers speedy winger needed to learn involved a great deal of “off-the-ball stuff.” Hunt said that was important because his team doesn’t have the ball as much as Chiefs in most games.
“He can play across the front pitch. He gives us a bit of outlet, and we don’t have that,” concluded Hunt.
‘LEBO MABOE IS ON ANOTHER LEVEL’
Meanwhile, the 60-year-old mentor praised Sundowns’ loanee Lebo Maboe who is settling in well at the club.
The 30-year-old has been a breath of fresh air after joining SuperSport during the January transfer window on loan until the end of the season. He has a goal to his name after three appearances in all competitions.
“Lebo is on another level, that’s what Sundowns have got,” he said. “You bring a player like that; I mean, he can’t make that team.”
SuperSport are currently 12th on the table, having won their fifth match after 18 league matches. They have lost eight times and drew five. In their next league matches, they host Golden Arrows on Sunday at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
RELATED STORY: Gavin Hunt unpacks decision to bring Saile to SuperSport
