Gavin Hunt explains why Stellenbosch FC missed out on Thapelo Maseko

Stellenbosch FC head coach Gavin Hunt says his club were unable to sign Mamelodi Sundowns winger Thapelo Maseko because they could not afford the deal.

Maseko is set to be unveiled by Danish giants FC Copenhagen after completing a move worth about R28 million. Hunt said he had wanted to bring the 22-year-old to Stellenbosch after the departure of Langelihle Phili left his squad short of options on the wings.

The wide areas have traditionally been central to Hunt’s approach during a coaching career spanning 30 years. The four-time league winner said he had tried to strengthen that part of his team, but the financial demands involved in signing Maseko made the move impossible.

“We tried to get him. Obviously, try to get one or two. I like natural wingers,” Hunt told the media.

“You know, left-footed, left-footed, right-footed, right-footed. I mean, I think a lot of teams have big strikers, but they get no service.

“You need service, and 99% of the time, a lot of these big strikers now at the big clubs in South Africa they they’re watching their team all day. They should be looking at the goals, shouldn’t they?

“The ball should be coming in a nice shape, but it’s all inverted now. So I can’t find anybody. It’s a real problem. I’m not going to get the player I want because that costs money.

“Like, I wanted Maseko. When he went for R28 million, he earned a million rand a month. I said, Rob, can we get him? Yeah, let’s try. Yeah, sure we tried…”

Hunt’s comments underline the difficulty Stellenbosch FC faced in competing for a player who commanded both a substantial transfer fee and a significant salary.

Maseko’s move to FC Copenhagen follows his time with Mamelodi Sundowns, where he established himself as a winger capable of playing on either side. His expected arrival in Denmark means Stellenbosch FC will have to continue looking elsewhere for the wide players Hunt believes are needed to provide service to his forwards.

The coach also used the missed opportunity to explain his preference for traditional wingers. Hunt wants a balance between left-footed players on the left and right-footed players on the right, rather than relying predominantly on inverted wide players.

He argued that teams can possess powerful strikers but still fail to make the most of them if the delivery into the penalty area is not good enough. For Hunt, the quality and shape of crosses remain an important part of giving forwards opportunities to score.

However, the manager acknowledged that the type of player he wants is often beyond Stellenbosch FC’s budget. Maseko’s R28 million transfer, combined with reported earnings of one million rand a month, placed the winger outside the club’s reach despite Hunt’s efforts to pursue the deal.

With Phili having left and Maseko now moving to FC Copenhagen, Hunt faces the task of rebuilding the depth of his squad in the areas he considers most important.