Gavin Hunt concedes Stellenbosch cannot catch Sundowns, Pirates and AmaZulu

Stellenbosch FC head coach Gavin Hunt says the gap to the Betway Premiership’s leading three clubs has already become too large for his side to bridge this season.

Mamelodi Sundowns lead the table, with Orlando Pirates second and AmaZulu in third after the opening rounds of the campaign. Stellenbosch are seventh following eight matches.

Hunt was speaking after Stellenbosch drew 1-1 with fourth-placed Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening. The result moved his side two places up the standings, but the coach believes the teams at the top have established a significant advantage.

“Obviously, they [the top three teams] have bought well, and they have invested in their squads heavily. We have had a lot of turnover, players leaving out of contract, Thabo Moloisane out of contract and so on,” Hunt told the media.

The turnover has left Hunt trying to develop a new team from a squad that includes several players who have had limited opportunities to play.

“So, we have had a lot of turnover and obviously, you’re not going to get the cherries because then we have got to try and build a team, taking guys who haven’t played much and try and make a team, which we will do,” he added.

“But they need to get into the rhythm of playing. There’s a lot of players here that haven’t played a lot, Given, Blom, George, they didn’t play much.”

Stellenbosch need time to settle

Hunt acknowledged that his new-look squad requires more matches to develop its rhythm and understanding, although he stressed that Stellenbosch cannot afford to let points slip while that process continues.

“So, we need to get them in a rhythm and that only comes with playing games. So, hopefully, it doesn’t take too long because we can’t suffer and try to build. We need to try and keep ourselves… I mean, that point tonight jumps us two spots,” he said.

Despite the improvement in the table after the draw, Hunt was blunt about his team’s prospects of challenging the leading sides.

“But the top three, they are gone, we’re not going to catch them,” he added.

Stellenbosch will have the chance to build on the point against Kaizer Chiefs when they host Chippa United on October 30. Hunt will hope the fixture helps his squad gain greater consistency and begin moving up the Betway Premiership standings.