Stellenbosch FC coach Gavin Hunt is looking to rebuild his squad after the team missed out on qualification for the MTN8, following a final-day stalemate with Marumo Gallants. The 0-0 draw in Bloemfontein on Saturday marked the end of a season that saw the team finish in ninth position on 37 points, just two points adrift of eighth-placed Durban City.
Hunt, who arrived at the club at the end of last year, has credited his players for securing safety and avoiding relegation. “I must commend the players,” he said. “They dug themselves out of a situation that wasn’t very pretty at the halfway stage, which was the first prize.” However, he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment that Stellenbosch will not be competing in the MTN8 next season — a competition the team has reached successive finals in over the past two seasons.
Rebuilding for Next Season
Hunt is now looking forward to starting a pre-season with Stellies, where he will have the opportunity to mould his charges the way he sees fit. “I’ve got lots of plans, but those things take time. It won’t all happen at once, I know that from an experience perspective, so we have to build the team slowly. There are players who will leave and players who will come in,” he said. According to the Premier Soccer League rules, teams are allowed to make changes to their squads during the transfer window.
Key Areas for Improvement
Some of the key areas that Hunt will be looking to improve on include the team’s attacking prowess, as well as their ability to close out games. “We had one or two games towards the end where we let ourselves down, and once we got safe, we perhaps took the foot off a little bit,” he said. “Take a game like this as an example, we should be winning with the chances we had.”
As the team looks to rebuild and improve for next season, they will be taking a closer look at their squad and making changes as necessary. Some of the players who may be leaving the club include those who are out of contract, while others may be brought in to strengthen the team. As noted on Wikipedia, the team has a history of developing young players from their academy.
- Securing a top eight finish in the league
- Improving the team’s attacking prowess
- Strengthening the team’s defense
Overall, while the season may not have ended on the highest note for Stellenbosch FC, the team is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that next season will bring. With Hunt at the helm, the team is sure to be a force to be reckoned with in the Premier Soccer League.
