Gavin Hunt warns PSL clubs face ‘unprecedented’ squad upheaval before new season

Stellenbosch coach Gavin Hunt says he has never witnessed such sweeping player clear-outs in the Premier Soccer League as clubs overhaul their squads on the eve of the 2026-27 campaign.

Speaking at the Betway Premiership launch at The Venue in Houghton, Johannesburg, on Wednesday, the veteran coach said the scale of departures across the league had left him “stunned” and was severely disrupting pre-season preparations.

“I’ve never seen such player movement in the PSL with every club,” Hunt said. “I think Pirates let go of 17 [players], we [Stellenbosch] 20, Galaxy must be more … everybody … Siwelele.”

Financial strain behind exits, says Hunt

Hunt believes the wave of departures is being driven primarily by financial pressure on clubs as they trim wage bills and reset budgets.

“It obviously has much to do with budgets, doesn’t it? Let’s be honest, money, whatever it is,” the Stellies coach said.

The 60-year-old, one of the longest-serving coaches in the PSL, suggested that the current window stands apart from previous off-seasons in its scale and timing, with major changes still being made just days before the league kicks off on Saturday.

“We’re two, three days away and there’re still moves happening now,” he said.

Constant rebuilding hurting pre-season plans

Hunt, the former Bidvest Wits coach, said the churn of players in and out of squads was making it almost impossible for technical teams to plan properly for the new campaign.

“It’s very difficult to keep hold of your players very, very difficult, as you’ve seen. We rebuild, rebuild all the time, bring in a new squad,” he said.

“As we talk, one player has just left now. Tomorrow will be another one, two days away from the first game …

“It’s not easy. You can’t prepare, you can’t do proper pre-season sessions because players are coming and going, and some are coming in later.”

Hunt appeared to be referring to Stellenbosch midfielder Thapelo Mokobodi, who completed a move to Orlando Pirates on Wednesday morning. Pirates are among the clubs to have made the most sweeping changes, with Hunt highlighting their reported 17 exits.

Stellies forced into ‘seven away games in a row’

Stellenbosch begin their Betway Premiership season against AmaZulu at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban on Saturday, but what is listed as a home fixture has been moved because of a lack of suitable venues in the Western Cape.

The club have been unable to secure a home ground for the opening match, forcing them to take the game to KwaZulu-Natal and extend a long sequence of fixtures away from their own supporters.

“Facility is a big problem. It’s seven away games in a row now [stretching from last season]. Something has to be done,” Hunt added.

The disruption to both squad-building and fixtures means Stellies head into the new season juggling heavy player turnover with a demanding travel schedule, while Hunt maintains that the scale of change across the PSL is unlike anything he has seen during his long career.