28 November 2017 – Listening to an emerging coach who played professional football in South Africa and even had a  short stint in the national team, Mpho Lordwick “Zico” Maleka , sing praises of Gavin Hunt is worth appreciating. Never the one to feel satisfied with a football qualification, Maleka contacted Gavin Hunt, the Bidvest Wits FC head coach, for a week- long visit to observe  firsthand how the current PSL champion  coach goes about his  daily professional duties as the head coach.

Joachim Louw of the German national team, current world champions, is reported to be spending appreciable moments in the company of the greats such as Arsene Wenger of Arsenal. Besides going there to observe progress made by those members of the German national team such as Ozil, by being in the company of an inventive coach like Arsen Wenger is more refreshing and enriching.

Small wonder that the German national team is an epitomy of the traditional German qualities and the evolving inventiveness often associated with great minds such as Arsene Wenger of Arsenal and Pep Guardiola of Manchester City to mention a few top level coaches.Learning from the best indeed.

Gavin Hunt is surely following the same policy in the mould of great coaches such as Wenger. By  allowing young South African coaches to be embedded in his training sessions and following up with post training interviews Gavin is affording these coaches an opportunity of a life time. Through this gesture the newly trained coaches are able to test the workability of theories learnt during their classes in a real professional environment as managed by a professional and winning coach. What a bonus!

Gavin Hunt’s open door policy is reflective of the nation builder the man is. One gets the sense that there is more to it than meets the idea. Let us not forget that it was the same technician who gave free advice on nation building in South Africa when he praised Pitso Mosimane for winning the ABSA Premier League two seasons ago. He defined Pitso Mosimane as a capable coach whose teams had always played exciting football.

We hear of other young SAFA trained Coaches who see Gavin Hunt as the mentor to learn from.

This is a vote of confidence in Gavin Hunt.

SAFA Coaching Education has taken note of this contribution. With the idea of internship as an integral part of the training of coaches receiving more support it is not unfair to see the likes of Gavin Hunt being great partners in future.

 

By SAFA Coaching Education