Stellenbosch FC coach Gavin Hunt is ready to look into the future as he rebuilds the winelands club. Stellenbosch FC are hoping to bring more stability to the club, with coach Gavin Hunt penning a new two-year deal on Tuesday.
Hunt replaced the long-serving Steve Barker midway through last season and helped lift the Maroons from the relegation zone to ninth position at the culmination of the 2025/26 season. Although Stellies missed out on the top eight, there were plenty of promising signs that Hunt was beginning to make progress with a squad that had experienced a major exodus of high-quality players over the past three seasons.
Rebuilding the Squad
To put it into perspective, newly-crowned CAF Champions League holders Mamelodi Sundowns boast three former Stellies players — Jayden Adams, Iqraam Rayners, and Fawaaz Basadien — in their squad, while Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates also have former Danie Craven stalwarts Andre de Jong and Deano van Rooyen. The majority of those players were influential in Stellenbosch finishing third for successive seasons in the Betway Premiership, reaching the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals at their first attempt last year, and winning the club’s first major trophy when they lifted the Carling Cup in the 2023/24 season.
However, to ensure those years are not remembered solely as the club’s former glory days, the experienced Hunt is looking forward to rebuilding the squad and starting a new chapter in Stellies’ history. “I’m very excited about the project we’re building at Stellenbosch FC,” Hunt said. “This is a fantastic club with fantastic facilities, and it is very professionally run.
Hunt’s Vision
The staff, whom I inherited on my arrival, have been very welcoming and supportive towards me, and we share a fresh and positive outlook for the future. You can never forget what has happened in the past, when the club was very successful under the previous coaching regime, and we want to get back up to that place where we can be competitive again.
According to the Premier Soccer League rules, clubs must operate within their means, and Hunt is aware of the financial constraints. “A lot of discussions have happened,” said the four-time Betway Premiership winner. “You know, we’ve got certain parameters that we work within for this football club. So, yeah, we’re going to have to box clever. I think boxing clever is more important than trying to be clever.
Some of the key areas Hunt will focus on include:
- Rebuilding the squad with a mix of experienced and young players
- Improving the team’s defensive record
- Developing a strong team culture
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