Gavin Hunt will be hoping to join a select group of coaches by leading his SuperSport United side to Nedbank Cup glory this year.
Hunt is seeking a third victory in South Africa’s FA Cup, which would take him level with Stuart Baxter and Pitso Mosimane on the list of most successful coaches in the competition’s history.
Only 12 coaches have won the competition more than once in its 52-year history, with Baxter and Mosimane the only three-time winners.
Baxter’s wins all came in a five-year period, though with two different clubs. He led Kaizer Chiefs to the league and Nedbank Cup ‘double’ in the 2012/13 season, and followed that up with back-to-back successes with SuperSport United in 2016 and 2017.
Matsatsantsa beat Orlando Pirates in both those finals to take their overall number of wins in the competition to five.
Mosimane’s success was over a much longer period – 15 years – but also included SuperSport as he took them to the title in 2005.
He had to wait a decade for his second win, achieved in 2015 with Mamelodi Sundowns, before he claimed a third victory five years later with The Brazilians. That was also his last game in charge of the side before leaving for Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
Hunt first lifted the trophy in 2004 when in charge of Moroka Swallows, and then repeated that feat with SuperSport United in 2012.
He actually made three finals in a row in that period but lost with Matsatsantsa against Kaizer Chiefs in 2013 and with BidVest Wits versus Orlando Pirates in 2014.
He will begin this year’s campaign at home to ABC Motsepe League side Dondol Stars, which should be a gentle enough ride into the last 16.
There are nine other coaches with multiple Nedbank Cup competition wins.
Ted Dumitru (Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns), Muhsin Ertugral (Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town), Thomas Johnson, Elkiam Khumalo and Kaizer Motaung (all Kaizer Chiefs), Eddie Lewis (Wits University and Moroka Swallows), Roy Matthews (Jomo Cosmos and SuperSport United), Tony Sanderson (both Orlando Pirates) and Mario Tuani (Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows) are the others.
A number of coaches in this year’s competition have won the trophy once before, including Marumo Gallants coach Dam Malesela (with TS Galaxy in 2019), Ernst Middendorp (Kaizer Chiefs in 2006) and defending champion Rhulani Mokwena with Mamelodi Sundowns last year.
Some famous names from the past who only lifted the trophy once are Ruud Krol (Orlando Pirates, 2011), Clive Barker (Santos, 2001), Jeff Butler (Kaizer Chiefs, 1992), Stanley Tshabalala (Mamelodi Sundowns, 1986) and Joe Frickleton (Kaizer Chiefs, 1984).
In terms of the nationalities of winning coaches, South African tacticians have lifted the trophy on 23 occasions, with Englishmen next on the list with 11 wins.
Coaches from Brazil, Chile, Romania, Scotland and Turkey have recorded two wins, and one each for Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Russia and Serbia.