‘He’s special’ – Thidiela recalls how he lured Hunt to Leopards
Black Leopards president David Thidiela has shared fond memories of how coach Gavin Hunt was willing to work and improve players regardless of the dusty field conditions in Venda, also explaining why coaching at the club nearly didn’t happen.
The SuperSport United coach is on the verge of reaching 1,000 games of coaching in the Premier Soccer League. The abandoned match between SuperSport United and Golden Arrows at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday was meant to celebrate the huge milestone in a coaching career spanning over 27 seasons.
But the match was suspended due to load shedding and will be replayed at a later date.
Hunt coached at Seven Stars and Hellenic before the surprise move to Leopards in 2001. He took the unfancied ‘Lidoda Duvha’ side to a historic top-eight finish. He was voted Coach of the Season before being lured by Moroka Swallows at the end of the season.
During his time at Leopards, Hunt would train the team in dusty fields in Louis Trichardt and the University of Venda due to a lack of facilities.
Thidiela has commended Hunt’s work ethic and shares details of how he first got hold of Hunt to coach in Venda.
HOW DAVID THIDIELA GOT GAVIN HUNT TO COACH AT BLACK LEOPARDS
“I got a call from a Cape Town-based agent asking if I wanted a coach, and I said yes. It was immediately after we got promoted [to the Premier Division],” Thidiela explained to FARPost.
“He [the agent] said Gavin Hunt, and I said yes. I interviewed him and we agreed, he then travelled to Venda.
“He helped us a lot that season. He took a new team to the top eight and won Coach of the Year. We saw his work ethic in Venda. He used to coach regardless of the dusty fields or whatever.”
SUPERSPORT UNITED MENTOR DESCRIBED AS A SPECIAL COACH BY HIS FORMER BOSS
“He’s a special coach. He was a special coach for us, and I am not surprised [about the recent millstone],” added Thidiela. “I am proud of him. I learned a lot of things from him, and I think he also learned from me. What I am most proud of about him is that he believes in young players.”
Thidiela also recalls how Hunt nearly left Leopards before he started his tenure due to disagreements over the signing of experienced players.
“Gavin Hunt wanted to sign players with experience, but there was some disagreement with regard to that. I told him that I promised my boys that they would play in the professional league if they got promoted. So I told him to work with those boys. At first, he was reluctant.
“He was using a team of unknown players. No big names. He nearly quit because of the disagreement regarding the players that were there and those that he wanted to sign. He stayed and did wonders with us. Even to this day, Gavin Hunt believes in young players.”
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