Sheppard reacts to Hunt’s claim that DDC fails to prepare players for top-flight
Kaizer Chiefs DDC assistant coach Dillon Sheppard has addressed Gavin Hunt’s assertion that the Diski Challenge system fails to prepare players for the top level.
Hunt was recently dismissed by SuperSport United after the team plummeted to second-from-bottom in the Betway Premiership, managing a mere five league wins this season.
The former Bidvest Wits coach had frequently voiced out his concerns about the inexperience within his SuperSport squad due to the club selling numerous key players in recent seasons, such as Sipho Mbule, Thalente Mbatha, Patrick Maswanganyi and Thapelo Maseko.
The Swanky Boys have been promoting a number of players from their reserve side, whom Hunt believes he couldn’t heavily rely on to deliver results. Among these youngsters from the club’s reserves are Neo Rapoo, Aphiwe Baliti, Bilal Baloyi, Siviwe Magidigidi, Thabang Mahlangu, Lyema Dopolo and Yandisa Mfolozi.
According to the 60-year-old coach, the DDC doesn’t adequately prepare players for the senior level, and he suggested that Betway Premiership clubs should establish B teams in the first division [the second tier] for proper development.
Sheppard, who previously served as Hunt’s assistant at Bidvest Wits and Chiefs, emphasised the importance of understanding the context of the veteran coach’s remarks.
He pointed out that Hunt’s ambition to win the league clashed with SuperSport’s current reliance on mostly young players. Sheppard noted that winning the league is particularly challenging when relying heavily on inexperienced players.
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“Gavin gave me my debut as a youngster when I was 18, I’m sure if there was [DStv] Diski Challenge, I was going to come through the system,” said Sheppard.
“So I think context is important because I think Gavin was never shy to throw young players in. I mean, if you look at the season of CAF [Champions League at Chiefs]. If you look at the likes of Njabulo Blom, Happy Mashiane, Mshini [Nkosingiphile Ngcobo], they had just come one season or half a season out of Diski.
“But maybe he meant… you know Gavin is always [talking about] winning the league. Everything is about the league.
“If he talks about a player, he says, ‘Can he win me the league?’. So maybe he’s also thinking, as a young player, can you perform at the level where you’re going to give him 25 to 30 games, and you win the league.
“But yeah, like I said, context is very, very important. They [SuperSport] have [good DDC players] this season [Siyabonga] Ndebele and Bilal [Baloyi].”
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