AmaZulu FC were confident of landing the signature of Gavin Hunt to appoint him as their new head coach last week, the Siya crew has established. But instead, the KwaZulu-Natal-based side surprisingly unveiled Pablo Franco Martin on a three-year contract following what president Sandile Zungu said was a rigorous interview process to find a permanent replacement for Romain Folz.
Rumours of Hunt being a target for the club emerged several days before AmaZulu announced Martin, who previously worked at Simba SC in Tanzania as well as Real Madrid as an assistant coach. However, Soccer Laduma understands Hunt was their man until the potential move collapsed, with suggestions his release clause at SuperSport United might have been the biggest stumbling block.
The former Kaizer Chiefs and Bidvest Wits mentor returned to the Tshwane outfit a year ago for a second spell with the team where he won three of the four league titles he has on his glittering CV. Hunt put pen to paper on a two-year contract and finished third in the DStv Premiership standings during his first season back.
Siya sources have informed the crew that the coach had a release clause in his agreement with Matsatsantsa and that is likely to have been what led to what would have been a shock move to Usuthu to not materialise. The interview process is believed to have included former Bafana Bafana skipper and Tottenham Hotspur defender Bongani Khumalo, who was helping Usuthu with the recruitment process for both a coach and Sporting Director.
Would Hunt have been a better appointment when compared to Martin?
