How Bidvest Wits sale and divorce broke Gavin Hunt

Hunt, one of South Africa's most decorated coaches, remains the last manager to win the Premier Soccer League outside Mamelodi Sundowns, guiding Wits to the 2016/17 title while also claiming MTN8 and Telkom Knockout victories.

But the sale of Wits before the 2020/21 season and its rebranding as Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) abruptly ended his seven-year tenure.

"Wits killed me," Hunt told Sportswire.com. "I spent six years at SuperSport United, six years at Moroka Swallows, seven years at Wits. I would have stayed at Wits forever. That killed everyone. I don't want to move, and that is why I got divorced."

After leaving Wits, Hunt briefly managed Kaizer Chiefs in 2020, taking them to a CAF Champions League semi-final, but lasted less than a year.

He later returned to SuperSport United for the 2022/23 season, only to be sacked in March while the club struggled near the bottom, despite previously winning three league titles there.

Hunt admits the Wits sale still weighs heavily on him. "I'm still very upset and hurt about what happened to me. I genuinely felt we were going to finish in the top eight. They got what they wanted."

Now with Durban City, Hunt looks to continue making history in South African football. The newly promoted club is currently doing decently since the start of the Betway Premiership. They have recorded 12 points in their opening six games in the league.

They have an opportunity to add to their point tally when they welcome Magesi FC at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday night.