Hendricks: ‘South Africa dislikes principled Hunt, Mosimane’

Former South African international Rowan Hendricks has joined the chorus of those questioning Durban City FC’s shock decision to sack veteran coach Gavin Hunt.

Management for the Betway Premiership rookies stunned the South African football fraternity on Tuesday by announcing that it had parted ways with the former Bidvest Wits FC’s mentor. His exit came a few days after a 2-0 loss to Orlando Pirates in the top-flight league match over the weekend.

In a reaction via his Facebook page, Rowan Hendricks lashed at club owners for preferring coaches who have not added value to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) while mistreating achievers such as Hunt and Mosimane.

“A coach who relegated teams, was kept for months, seasons…lol and tries to be a philosopher to confuse owners. What did he ever add to South African football?” the ex-Cape Town Spurs player wrote.

His remarks come amid reports that Durban City might bring back Ernst Middendorp who resigned from his role in the Betway Premiership team as technical director overseeing Hunt. The German steered the team from the Motsepe Foundation Championship back to the top-flight league of the PSL a season after its relegation when it was then called Maritzburg United.

The former Bafana Bafana midfielder Hendricks further explained why club owners in South Africa do not like hiring principled coaches such as Hunt.

“But it’s because you [Hunt] are a man of principle coach, and you have played the game and paid your school fees, while others were looking for backdoor passes. Forever in coaches like yourself and coach Pitso Mosimane corner. Men of principle, South African football doesn’t like,” the ex-Cape Town City star added.

“I’m glad I got out, tasted and saw what it’s like before I started feeling hatred towards football because of its politics and owners who listen to people who haven’t drawn up a warmup, training session or periodisation. You’ll deserve to be given your flowers because we learnt so much from you. Thank you for always persevering and never dropping the baton.”

What happened to Gavin Hunt at Durban City?

Announcing the sacking of the former SuperSport United mentor via a statement, Durban City said they arrived at the decision following “a review of the footballing strategy conducted by the Board of Directors, which concluded a new approach is required to achieve the club’s objectives.”

Earlier, Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi also punched holes in the decision to let go the former Kaizer Chiefs handler barely after five months on the job. He presided over 14 league matches, recording five wins, four draws, and five losses.

Assistant coach Pitso Dlada is now in temporary charge of the Durban-based club first team on an interim basis, and his reign started with a convincing 3-0 victory over Orbit College FC on Wednesday. Durban City are in seventh place.