Why CAFCC exit a blessing in disguise - Gavin Hunt | OneFootball

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Hunt explains why CAF elimination is a blessing for Stellies

Photo: Gavin Hunt

Stellenbosch FC head coach Gavin Hunt has suggested their CAF Confederation Cup group stage exit is a blessing in disguise.

The Cape Winelands outfit lost three of the four matches the 61-year-old mentor oversaw in the Confed Cup, resulting in a third place finish in Group C.

Hunt took over the reins from Steve Barker in December, after the latter was lured to East Africa by Tanzanian giants Simba SC, leaving Stellies languishing in 14th in the Betway Premiership table.

The former SuperSport United boss says he communicated with the hierarchy about prioritising the topflight status, and believes the gruesome continental football would have been a distraction.

“I had a chat to the board before I came in, I said look we are second bottom in the league, this Africa is fantastic but really I need to look at the players. So, the next four games I looked at the players, I gave everybody a game and we played,” said Hunt.

"We didn't do badly, we actually did quite well, we never scored a goal but we did okay. But it gave me a chance to look at everybody because I didn't really know most of the squad - I know them but I mean you don't really know them all what they're about, what they can do.

"So, we used the four games - I did certainly, but that was with the knowledge of that obviously we want to do well. We were one victory away from being in the next round but that certainly would have been a hinderance for us with our squad, definitely.

Having ascended to 11th after a win over Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday, Stellenbosch will now welcome AmaZulu at the Danie Craven Stadium on Friday.