Gavin Hunt named the best coach of Dingane Masanabo’s career in Silver Stars dressing-room memories

Former Silver Stars player Dingane Masanabo has identified Gavin Hunt as the best coach he worked with, praising the manager’s honesty during his time at Moroka Swallows.

Masanabo reflected on his career and recalled the characters who shaped life inside the dressing room at the now-defunct Premier Soccer League club in the latest edition of Locker Room Secrets.

Although he admits he would have liked to achieve more, Masanabo said he remains proud of reaching the PSL after beginning his journey among players he considered more talented than himself at amateur level.

“Obviously as a human being you will never be satisfied. But I’m so happy to have lived a dream of players who were even better than me at amateur level. Obviously I wanted more but I’m happy to have been part of the PSL.”

Reaching the top flight was the former Silver Stars dangerman’s biggest accomplishment, although he was unable to earn a place in the national team.

“To having played in the PSL is my greatest achievement. Unfortunately I didn’t make it into the national team.”

Masanabo also looked back at the personalities within his former squad, beginning with the player he considered most likely to arrive late.

He said Junior Khanye was regularly late after joining Silver Stars, attributing the delays to the midfielder’s lifestyle at the time.

“There was a time when Junior Khanye joined us at Silver Stars, he was always late. It was during his naughty days where he would not sleep at night, drive until the morning while sleeping [laughs]. They were too busy these boys.”

The competition for the best-dressed player was said to centre on Koketso Mmotong and Lifa Mogaila. According to Masanabo, both players stood out because of their preference for costly designer clothing.

“Koketso Mmotong, Lifa Mogaila, those guys were always on their expensive labels.”

Asked who had the poorest sense of style, Masanabo named Stanley Kgatla, while acknowledging that his former team-mate might not be pleased with the answer.

“[Laughs] He is going to kill me, but it was Stanley Kgatla. He couldn’t combine things. Everything was not matching. He loved wearing shorts and he had big calf muscles.”

There was no player Masanabo could single out for failing to shower after training or matches. He said the entire group maintained that basic routine.

“No one. We all showered.”

His strongest praise was reserved for Hunt, who coached him at Moroka Swallows. Masanabo said the manager’s straightforward approach made him the outstanding coach of his career.

“Gavin Hunt. He coached me at Moroka Swallows, I liked his honesty.”