Durban City’s decision to sack Gavin Hunt simply doesn’t make sense
Despite being in a solid eighth place in the Betway Premiership, newly promoted Durban City have shocked everyone by parting ways with head coach Gavin Hunt.
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Durban City surprised everyone earlier this week when they announced that they had parted ways with head coach Gavin Hunt by mutual consent.
What was shocking about the announcement was that Hunt’s sacking comes at a time when the newly promoted side is punching above its weight in 8th place in the Betway Premiership. For a side that was in the second tier just last season, they are doing well, which is why the decision is so baffling.
This was also the opinion of Golden Arrows boss Manqoba Mngqithi, who said: “Gavin, in my opinion, was still doing well at Durban City and he has introduced a lot of youngsters that are doing well and that did very well even in the NFD.”
His firing suggests he may have had a disagreement with club bosses in the running of the club. Before the season kicked off, the club left everyone scratching their heads when they appointed Hunt to work alongside Ernst Middendorp. The German tactician then left the club after the season began, reportedly after falling out with Hunt.
At the same time, the coaching instability behind the scenes has raised questions about the club’s long-term vision. From boardroom disagreements to the unexpected departure of Middendorp, Durban City’s technical direction has appeared fractured despite the team’s solid performances.
This turbulence offers important context for Hunt’s exit and paints a clearer picture of why the situation escalated so quickly.
Whoever comes in to replace Hunt will now have to hit the ground running so the club can maintain their run of form. After such a good start, they will be kicking themselves if they suddenly find themselves in a relegation scrap near the bottom of the league.
Ultimately, Durban City’s next steps will reveal whether this bold decision was a masterstroke or a costly miscalculation. Stability will be crucial, and the club’s hierarchy must now back their new coach with clarity and conviction. If they can steady the ship quickly, their promising start could still blossom into a breakthrough season – otherwise, this turbulent chapter may come to define their campaign.
IOL Sport
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