Staff Reporter.
Kaizer Chiefs drew 2-2 with Horoya AC to advance to the quarter finals in the Caf Champions League on Saturday, coach Gavin Hunt was left with confidence that they could perhaps take a shot at winning it.
Chiefs were made to sweat for their spot in one of the pots for the draw later this month as they had to come from behind twice to get the result they desired. The intensity with which they played the game, the hunger and determination must be the reason Hunt sees this as a big step in the right direction.
“We knew that in order to qualify we had to get a score draw or win the game. It was a huge fight, a. huge effort and a big achievement for the club,” said Hunt after Saturday’s match in Guinea.
“It’s the first time we got to the group stages, and first time we got out. It’s a great achievement to be in the last eight. We know it only gets tougher. We are in the draw now, but we will worry about that when we get to it.”
Asked where getting to the quarterfinals in such a big tournament ranks in all his achievements as coach, Hunt said it’s not there yet as they’ve just qualified for the knockout stages and a lot still needs to be done.
Erm, jah… we’ve won nothing (yet), we’ve just got through… this is a hell of a competition to play in, and (we did all this while) we haven’t signed a single player so you’ve got to look at it in that perspective. With the squad that we have had to do this with, it’s an achievement, and I think we’ve over achieved.
“But we need to win leagues titles, that’s the ultimate. I’ve won four and one in the first division and many other trophies. But obviously this one is a flagship and it has just come into our radar now. We’ve got a whiff of it now, let’s see who we get in the draw,” he added.
He believes that his squad has punched above its weight, amid player transfer restrictions by Fifa, to reach the quarter-finals of “one hell of a” Caf Champions League competition.
Hunt has already shown that he can achieve whatever mandate set out for him by the Chiefs management but he just needs the right players and enough time to do that.
Now, what Chiefs have achieved in the CAF Champions League should signal the beginning of greater things to come at Naturena, and for that reason, the club bosses can now keep Hunt as head coach much longer and see if he can or cannot bring back the old glory days.