Former Orlando Pirates striker Phumudzo Manenzhe believes the decision to fire Gavin Hunt was the right one since he had failed with a performing squad.
Amakhosi decided to part ways with the tactician after their inconsistent performances in the PSL although they are in the semifinals of the CAF Champions League.
That decision took many by surprise but not the 37-year-old former Bucs attacker.
“A lot of people might be surprised, but I, for one, am not surprised,” Manenzhe said on Sunday.
“Hunt inherited a squad that came second in the league in the previous season, barring the exclusion of George Maluleka who had left, [for Mamelodi Sundowns], the rest of the team was basically the same.
“So for me, in a football sense, how can a team that finished second struggle to finish outside the top eight the following season? I find that hard to understand.”
Chiefs, who were serving a Fifa transfer ban, didn’t afford Hunt the opportunity to strengthen the team in the transfer window and even missed the services of his top scorer Samir Nurkovic for a large period due to injuries.
But Manenzhe still believes it isn’t a tenable excuse for the 56-year-old former Budvest Wits gaffer to finish in the bottom half of the log.
“Play the players to their strengths so that they can get to second place again,” the former attacker continued.
“Are you telling me Hunt was not playing these players to their best to finish outside the top 10? Hunt has been in [South African] football for a long time so you cannot tell me what he needs to understand.”
Meanwhile, a senior player had stated the now departed tactician and the players were not in good terms and he wanted to make changes once he had a chance to do so.
“Hunt had a poor relationship with many players at the club,” he said anonymously in an interview.
“He had intentions of releasing about half the team and bringing in new players. But things have happened and he is no longer with us.
“We remained positive and worked professionally. Every player gave his best and no one sabotaged him or even planned a go-slow.
“We were playing for the badge, not Hunt.”
“Too bad that some results were not going our way, especially in the PSL, but we want to finish stronger.”