Gavin Hunt named Durban City coach: His PSL track record
Newly promoted Durban City have announced Gavin Hunt as their new coach for the upcoming 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.
Hunt's quest for 1 000 games ended in the most South African way possible last season – with the power grid failing at half-time in his milestone game, although he coached a few more games after that to surpass 1 000.
He was then sacked by a struggling SuperSport United side who barely managed to avoid relegation.
Matsatsantsa were sold in recent days.
Now, as he joins Durban City, Hunt reaches yet another milestone – this is his 10th coaching stint (nine clubs).
Durban City won last season's Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC) to gain promotion to the top-flight.
They were later joined by fellow MFC side Orbit College who won the promotion-relegation playoffs, sealing the demotion of Cape Town City FC.
Here's a brief reminder of each of Gavin Hunt's previous coaching stints. First game (top-flight only): v AmaZulu (21 July 1998, Rothmans Cup – won 2-1)
Last game: v Bush Bucks (22 November 1998, League – lost 1-2)
First goalscorer: George Dearnely
Last goal scorer: Jeremiah Jansen First game: v Swallows (27 November 1998, League – won 2-1)
Last game: v Bush Bucks (25 March 2001, League – lost 0-2)
First goalscorer: Peter Kirsten
Last goal scorer: George Hummel First game: v Free State Stars (9 August 2001, League – won 1-0)
Last game: v Wits University (27 April 2002, League – lost 0-2)
First goalscorer: Japhta Mabosha
Last goal scorer: Rudzani Ramudzuli First game: v Orlando Pirates (10 August 2002, TOP8 – lost 0-5)
Last game: v SuperSport United (20 May 2007, League – drew 0-0)
First goalscorer: Gavin Manuel
Last goal scorer: Henrico Botes First game: v Black Leopards (15 August 2007, League – lost 0-1)
Last game: v Kaizer Chiefs (25 May 2013, Nedbank Cup final – lost 0-1)
First goalscorer: Daine Klate
Last goal scorer: Sibusiso Zuma First game: v Platinum Stars (4 August 2013, League – drew 0-0)
Last game: v Polokwane City (5 September 2020, League – won 3-1)
First goalscorer: Sibusiso Vilakazi
Last goal scorer: Phathutshedzo Nange First game: v Maritzburg United (18 October 2020, MTN8 – won 2-1)
Last game: v Black Leopards (26 May 2021, League – lost 1-2)
First goalscorer: Yagan Sasman
Last goal scorer: Leonardo Castro First game: v Sekhukhune Utd (21 August 2021, League – won 1-0)
Last game: v Maritzburg Utd (7 November 2021, League – drew 0-0)
First goalscorer: Veluyeke Zulu
Last goal scorer: Sammy Seabi First game: v Chippa Utd (7 August 2022, League – drew 1-1)
Last game: v TS Galaxy Utd (11 March 2025, League – lost 1-3)
First goalscorer: Bradley Grobler
Last goal scorer: Nyiko Mobbie
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Why AmaZulu FC released 17 players: A calculated reset for the future
AmaZulu FC say their decision to release 17 players was a calculated reset to reverse a worrying decline and back head coach Arthur Zwane's vision to return the club to the top. Speaking at the launch of the 2025 KZN Premier's Cup this week, club spokesperson Philani Ndlela said the mass clear-out was not just a reaction to recent results, but a strategic move shaped by where the team wants to go. 'If you look at the last five seasons, the club finished inside the top eight three times and twice outside. We played one cup final, which we lost, and you can see that in the last five seasons we did not do as well as we expected – in as much as we got an opportunity to play in the CAF Champions League,' said Ndlela. 'But our graph kept going down instead of going up, so it was important for us to have a turnaround.' AmaZulu ended the 2024/25 Betway Premiership campaign in sixth place, securing a spot in the MTN8. While that finish could be seen as progress, Ndlela insisted it wasn't enough for a club with ambitions of lifting trophies. The arrival of Arthur Zwane last season — initially as co-coach alongside Vusumuzi Vilakazi — marked the beginning of that turnaround. Vilakazi has since departed, and Zwane has been trusted to lead a long-term project centred on youth and tactical evolution. 'When we saw coach Arthur Zwane bringing in new and fresh ideas in the team, it was important for us to go back to the drawing board to bring in younger players that are going to help us get back to the top,' Ndlela explained. Alongside Zwane, AmaZulu have bolstered their technical team by roping in Simo Dladla as an assistant coach.
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Kevin Lerena all geared up to face Lawrence Okolie in heavyweight showdown
KEVIN LERENA is 'ready to rumble' and Lawrence Okolie better be prepared for the toughest night of his fighting career. The darling of South African boxing makes a return to the heavyweight division a much smarter, stronger and hungrier fighter than he was when he traded punches with Daniel Dubois and ended on the bottom of his pants. Currently the WBC bridgerweight champion, Lerena will next Saturday contest the WBC Silver Heavyweight title against the explosive Okolie who - like the South African – previously held the cruiserweight world championship. The fight will be on the undercard of the second installment of the Ulsyk and Dubois battle for the undisputed world heavyweight title at London's Wembley Stadium. "Two Guns", as Lerena is affectionately known, leaves for England today in high spirits he will bring back the title. 'I'm ready, we've done all the work we can and I am in the best possible shape and all that's left is to go out there and execute,' Lerena said during a telephonic interview. He knows he's in for one helluva fight though. 'He's a solid guy,' he said of Okolie. 'He has just one loss and a good knockout ratio (16 of his 21 victories were within the distance). "So I know it is a tough competition; the guy has Olympic pedigree and he has just come off a good victory in his last fight. "He is a former Cruiserweight champion like myself and we both want to be heavyweight champs. So, it is a crossroads and we now have to fight.' And fighting is something Lerena does very well. While for this fight the stats would seem to favour Okolie who is heavier, has a bigger reach and a higher knockout ratio, the man they fondly refer to as Two Guns has sent many such to sleep in the past. And he intends to do exactly the same to Okolie. "Looking at his resume, he's only fought one name which you can put a cross to - and he lost that one. Chris William Smith is the only big name he has fought. 'I am no stranger to the big stages and no stranger to the big names. But on the night all that is irrelevant, let's see how it goes.' Lerena, as he always does for all his fights, is planning an early night. 'I've gotta go in there and maul him. It has to be a knockout. I can't go in there trying to outbox a very good boxer. I need to be explosive. I am not going in there to win a boxing match against a guy who is six-foot-six and has a long jab and a long right hand. I have to dim his lights.' From a young age, Lerena has dreamt of being a world champion, inspired as he was by seeing the likes of Corrie Sanders shining on the sport's biggest stage. 'This is an opportunity to put myself on the biggest stage in the world. This is my chance to realize the dreams I nursed as a young man.' And he is not going to let it pass him by. He learnt from his defeat by Dubois three years ago when he knocked his adversary three times in the first round only to be knocked out in the third. 'For me it is purely due to the will and the desire, this is where I was destined to be, the big glare of the sport of boxing is in the heavyweights and I want it.' Though talented, Lerena has worked very hard on his craft – hence the success he has enjoyed. And unlike many boxers or sportsmen in general, the success has not made him lazy or big-headed. Far from it, it has made him work all the harder to stay up there. 'I live a clean life, and when it comes to work ethic and dedication, no one can beat me. Also, the opportunities I've been given, I've not squandered.' And he is not intending to squander this one coming up at Wembley next weekend.
The South African
8 hours ago
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs news: Marijuana, alcohol and rehab
Most Kaizer Chiefs followers surely still remember Kgaogelo Sekgota. His departure from Naturena was just the other day in 2023 after two assists in 48 appearances. The Polokwane-born attacker moved on to Stellenbosch FC and Magesi FC in the Betway Premiership, but did not stick around for more than six months at either club. These days, Sekgota is playing his football at Upington City in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Unfortunately, things are not going well at all in Namaqualand. The Northern Cape-based club has confirmed that the former Kaizer Chiefs winger is struggling with drug addiction. Kaizer Chiefs to sign 11th striker since 2020? Kgaogelo Sekgota is starting over at Magesi FC. Image: BackpagePix Reports on social media claimed that the former Bidvest Wits and Swallows star has been struggling with marijuana and alcohol abuse. Last season, Sekgota was dismissed by two Betway Premiership clubs after six months at each club: Stellenbosch and Magesi. Bafana Bafana winger on Kaizer Chiefs move Meanwhile, his new club Upington, are committing support. 'You can't dismiss a player because he is in rehab, so he still has an option with us,' the club's chairman David Mogashoa told FARPost . 'The player needs support, so I am going to support him. As I speak with you now, you can hear that I am in a car. I am driving to Limpopo to see him. You don't throw away people when they need help; you support them,' he added. 'We are encouraging him, and we also encourage everyone who has an issue to seek help. A player must never be crucified for seeking help. That's why I am driving to Limpopo now to go and see him,' the former Swallows chairman Mogashoa added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
