In the public sphere, Gavin Hunt appears negative, a pessimist at best; however, in the dressing room he is a completely different character, which is highlighted in a recent incident with the club's sensation Shandre Campbell.
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Hunt is perhaps better known for what he has achieved in his glittering coaching career than for his media relations.
Whether it is a shoestring squad, a limited budget, questionable officiating, Mamelodi Sundowns' spending, the congested schedule – there is very little Hunt hasn't complained about.
But it appears that he has a way with his players, particularly the younger generation, that has seen them rise to the occasion this season.
In the case of Shandre Campbell, the club's latest gem, Hunt channelled his inner Jose Mourinho by making a bet with the teenager.
Just like Mourinho in 2021, promised to buy wonderkid Felix Afena-Gyan new €800 (±R16 000) shoes after match-winning brace for AS Roma in 10 minutes, Hunt made a monetary bet with the 18-year-old in their recent match against Richards Bay FC.
According to captain Thulani Hlatshwayo, Hunt promised the Reiger Park native R1000 if he could score after completing five minutes in the ice bath.
"He [Hunt] is very different [from how he is in the media]. He is our fan, even with the youngsters, that is why they are able to work for him," Hlatshwayo told journalists.
"The coach is managing all the players, the number of youngsters that we have. We had another player who made his debut against Richards Bay at the age of 17. The coach is always depending on us because we are the connection between the coach and the players to stay humble.
"We don't praise them a lot. I always tell Shandre that you need to humble, there are still a lot of things to come. When we played Richards Bay, they made a bet with the coach that if he stays in the ice bath for five minutes and score a goal, he would give him R1000 – and he did. And now he has been called up for the training camp in the under-20s.
"I told him that's where it starts, he still needs to stay humble," he continued.
Campbell has scored five goals and registered four assists for Hunt's side in 22 matches played this season.
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