There was yet another disappointing performance from Gavin Hunt's Kaizer Chiefs side as they drew 2-2 with Black Leopards on Wednesday evening. The poor result is just one of many in Hunt's tenure with the club - the former Bidvest Wits coach has bemoaned his luck since taking over the reins this season.
It appears that Hunt's problems go beyond the field at Amakhosi. The 56-year-old has been without the club's top goalscorer Samir Nurkovic, who hasn't kicked a ball for the team this season, having undergone surgery for an injury he had since the end of the last campaign.
In his pre-match interview, Hunt revealed that the Serbian has been fully fit for the last two weeks, despite a social media post from the club suggesting otherwise. As to why the 27-year-old has not been able to feature remains baffling to Hunt.
"Nurkovic has been fit for about two weeks now, but obviously there's other problems you know," Hunt said.
Nurkovic has been the subject of interest from Al Ahly, who are said to have tabled an offer for his services, but Chiefs are adamant to hold onto their star performer.
That is not all there is to Hunt's woes at Chiefs. It is hard to believe that this is the same team that came within 20 minutes of winning the league under coach Ernst Middendorp last season.
Not only do Chiefs players look lethargic and sluggish, they have been committing individual errors that have been costing the club valuable points this campaign.
With his post-match comments, could Hunt be asking for better performances from his more experienced players?
The on-field mistakes made by the players in recent matches would be more likely expected from the likes of Nkosingiphile Ncgobo and Njabulo Blom, who are relative novices, but instead, it is the senior players who are making schoolboy errors.
"Mistakes, big mistakes from big players so you don't expect that, but it's been happening since I've been here. But you got to get through it and stick together and get through this," Hunt said in his post-match interview.
Hunt hasn't been afraid to lay into key players like Khama Billiat either. The Zimbabwean has been below par since moving to Naturena in 2018 and has struggled to replicate the form that saw him being crowned PSL Player of the Season in 2016/17.
"Disappointing because I thought there were a lot of opportunities in the second half. I mean, last play of the game, (Siphelele) Ntshangase, Billiat trying to flick it, I don't know what he was trying to do. He just had to play it simple and we would have scored," Hunt said.
Hunt's previous tenures with at SuperSport and Wits suggest that the coach is not afraid to sideline players, even important ones, who aren't pulling their weight; but, this is not necessarily something he can do at Chiefs. Hunt needs the backing of senior players now more than ever.
If he does, Hunt may fall victim to player power at Chiefs. Players are aware that it is cheaper to fire the coach now than get rid of them, especially with a transfer ban. And if results aren't forthcoming Hunt could possibly be 'forced' out if players have their way.
July 2021 cannot come soon enough for Hunt, as Chiefs will be eligible to sign players once again. You can expect a massive clear-out of some of the club's seasoned campaigners, who do not form part of the coach's plans, while he brings in his preferred players.
Whether he will be able to sign them or not is a different story altogether. Chiefs are known to be reluctant to fork out big transfer fees and have heavily relied on free transfers and unknown foreign players in recent times, which will make Hunt's search for glory at the Soweto giants that much tougher.
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