Gavin Hunt identifies Kaizer Chiefs’ missing ingredient

Kaizer Chiefs have endured a mixed start to the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season. After an encouraging opening run of three wins and a draw in their first five matches, the Glamour Boys hit a concerning slump, going four games without a single victory.

Hunt—who previously managed Amakhosi—offered a candid assessment of the club’s current predicament. Hunt believes that while Chiefs possess a high-quality squad, their immediate struggle lies in finding optimal player combinations.

He was speaking after his men; Durban City FC suffered a heartbreaking last-minute defeat at the hands of Chiefs on Friday in Durban. Flavio Da Sliva scored the winner to give Amakhosi a 1-0 victory over Durban City at a vibrant Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Quality is There, Chemistry is Lacking At Kaizer Chiefs

Chiefs undertook a significant recruitment drive this season, bringing in established names like Thabiso Monyane and Paseka Mako from Orlando Pirates, alongside midfielders Siphesihle Ndlovu and Lebohang Maboe, and an array of attacking talent, including Khanyisa Mayo, Flavio Silva, and Etiosa Ighodaro.

For Hunt, the sheer volume of talent is part of the problem. “They have a good squad of players, they obviously good maybe too big a squad there,” Hunt stated on the Smash Sports podcast. He elaborated that the technical team hasn’t yet settled on their best XI:

“They just haven’t found their [combinations], he fits better there, and he fits better there. Sometimes it happens at a big club like that… I think Chiefs have the same problem. A lot of players have come in. There is a big turnover.”

Hunt pointed out that large squads, common at giants like Chiefs and Orlando Pirates (who often carry 30 to 40 players), inherently create a challenge: with everyone being equally talented, determining the perfect starting lineup becomes complex.

While the desire for new signings always exists among fans—”The supporter obviously does not care about that. Every season they just want to see who they are signing”—Hunt suggested that the Glamour Boys must now prioritise cohesion over acquisitions.

Chiefs eventually snapped their four-match winless streak with a crucial 1-0 victory over Hunt’s Durban City side last weekend.

Next up, they host Orbit College at FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening. A victory could potentially propel the team up to second place, dependent on results from Sekhukhune United and Orlando Pirates.