EXCLUSIVE: The day I lose that passion is the day I stop, says Durban FC boss Gavin Hunt

It’s a bright and breezy morning in Durban - a city better known for its golden coastline than for its thriving football infrastructure. But today, the spotlight is firmly on a man who has walked the length and breadth of South African football. 

A man who's more comfortable in the dugout than in the limelight. A man who, on his birthday, is still grinding it out, still dreaming, and - most importantly - still coaching.

Gavin Hunt turns another year older today, and true to form, he’s back at work, sleeves rolled up, boots on, and eyes fixed on the challenge ahead. 

Durban may be new territory for him in a coaching capacity, but the hunger, the grit, and the gravel-voiced honesty remain the same.

"I’ve been coming to Durban since 1981 as a player," he tells me, chuckling. "But I’ve never lived here. So obviously, I need to find my way around a little bit… get settled."

That sense of displacement isn’t just geographical. It’s been a whirlwind few years for Hunt - one moment at SuperSport United, the next unexpectedly out of a job. He’s found himself bouncing from one club to the next: from the high-profile chaos of Kaizer Chiefs to the emergency call-up at Chippa United, back to familiar ground at SuperSport, and now, into what many would see as the unknown - taking the reins at a newly promoted club in KwaZulu-Natal. 

His current appointment? A late call. One that came "out of the blue," as he puts it.

"I don’t know what happened previously with the other coaches, but I made the decision to come. It’s late, sure, but I’m here now."

Hunt’s coaching career has often been framed by timing - sometimes perfect, sometimes tragic. He was set for a long-term project at Bidvest Wits before the club was controversially sold. 

"Wits destroyed everything," he says bluntly. "I would’ve still been there. But the club got sold."

He took the job at Kaizer Chiefs "at the wrong time," in his own words, while SuperSport - a second home - also eventually slipped from under him. At 61, many would expect him to wind down, but Hunt is wired differently.

"The day I lose that passion is the day I stop," he insists. "People told me during the two months off to take a break. I said no - if I take a break, it’ll be permanent."

Coaching in Durban presents fresh challenges. Despite its sunshine and charm, the city lacks the facilities Hunt is used to. But he’s not a stranger to adversity. 

"When you’re coaching a newly promoted side, you’ve got to be clever," he says. "The level is up. The quality is better. The pitches are better. You’ve got to adjust, or you get caught." 

He’s quick to draw parallels to his days at Seven Stars, where his team went 78 games unbeaten before promotion - only to find themselves on a 12-game winless streak once in the top flight.

"It sets in them," he explains, referring to the psychological strain that promotion brings. "You need to level out quickly" 

He’s inherited a squad he barely knew a week ago. 

"I didn’t know the players, didn’t watch much of them before. But I watched the last game - and I was impressed.";

For a man who’s known for doing things his own way, Hunt's  new partnership with Ernst Middendorp is a noteworthy twist.

"Ernst is going to be handling youth development and helping with identifying players," Hunt shares.

"He won’t be involved in match day results — that’s my side. But he’s helping with structures, with scouting, with putting the foundations in place. And I’m okay with that. We need all the help we can get.";

He’s also brought in Rowan Fernandes and is waiting for Kaitano Tembo to join the technical team.

And he’s been full of praise for club boss Farook Kadodia.

"Farook knows football. He sticks to the budget — doesn’t get emotionally attached to signings. That’s important. You overpay for players who underperform, and you struggle. It happened to a few clubs last year."

For Hunt, the metrics of success are simple but meaningful.

"You want to build a team that’s competitive. You want to bring a bit of joy to the Chatsworth area - that’s going to be our home ground. But more than anything, you want to build a stable club. Results don’t bring stability. Stability brings results."

It’s a subtle but important distinction — one that speaks to the lessons of a seasoned coach who’s seen both the glory and the grind. 

For Hunt, it’s not about chasing trophies anymore. It’s about building something that lasts. Something that reflects his ethos: discipline, clarity, and unrelenting passion.

While most people would take the day off or enjoy a quiet celebration, Hunt is doing what he loves - preparing for training, analyzing opposition, and getting stuck into the hard work of building a football team from the ground up.

"I still enjoy the day-to-day. I love the training ground. That’s where I come alive." 

Even during his brief hiatus from football, he couldn’t stay still.

"I played golf, went to the beach, had coffee every morning… watched a lot of football. Then I went overseas for a bit. Just to refresh. But I couldn’t wait to come back." 

There’s something refreshing about Hunt’s simplicity. He doesn’t speak in rehearsed clichés. He doesn’t overcomplicate things. What you see is what you get. And what you get is a man whose life revolves around football.

As he embarks on this new chapter, the expectations are modest, but the intent is fierce. The road ahead won’t be easy - newly promoted sides rarely have it smooth. But with Hunt, this club has a coach who doesn’t just understand football. He lives it.

And today, on his birthday, he’s not blowing out candles. He’s blowing the whistle - again.