Gavin Hunt targets 41 points for Stellenbosch to secure MTN8 spot

Stellenbosch FC coach Gavin Hunt has targeted a minimum of 41 points to secure qualification for the MTN8. 

Stellies are currently in 10th place with 32 points in the Betway Premiership, having collected just a single point from their last three matches, which includes defeats to Polokwane City (away) and Orlando Pirates (home).

Hunt is acutely aware that his team now need to claim a maximum nine points from their last three matches if they are to finish amongst the Top 8 for the fifth consecutive season. They were helped immensely during this week's mid-week games after draws between AmaZulu and Golden Arrows, Richards Bay and Polokwane and Siwelele and Durban City.

Stellies have also reached the MTN8 final the past two seasons. 

“Obviously, we’re disappointed with the result. I thought we lost the fight, not the football match,” Hunt said, after the 2-0 reversal to Pirates.

“I thought we didn't handle their directness, and I thought they played off that. We needed to be better. We shouldn't be conceding from a standard situation, which we did. If my centre-back doesn’t want to head the ball, then I’ve got a problem.”

The four-time Betway Premiership-winning coach was brought in towards the end of last year to arrest a slide that saw Stellenbosch battling among the relegation contenders. Hunt has turned the ship around with Stellies’ PSL status secured for next season, but he now wants to go one step further. 

“We’ve done well with the players we have to get where we are. It’s been an absolute miracle what we’ve achieved since January. Right now, we can’t compete with these teams, but next year, for sure. There are a lot of players who shouldn’t be here,” he said.

“I think 41 points could get us there into the top eight. We're going to have to win our last three games now. 

“I thought we should have won last week (against Polokwane City) and I thought we could get a point against Pirates and then we could go from there, but now we're going to have to win three games.”

Stellenbosch’s last three matches are away against Durban City on Friday before returning home to face Orbit College and then going back on the road to play Marumo Gallants. 

“Besides City, it's all teams at the bottom, so it's going to be tough because obviously they'll be fighting for their lives there,” Hunt added.