Gavin Hunt upset Thatayaone Ditlhokwe is joining KIaizer Chiefs

The news emerged last week when SABC Sport revealed that the Botswana international and captain was on his way to Naturena on a pre-contract at the end of the season, meaning SuperSport had failed to hold on to him.

Chiefs subsequently confirmed the story and, following United's 1-1 draw with Richards Bay in the DStv Premiership on Sunday evening, Hunt was asked what he thought of the player’s decision to leave a club he joined exactly three years ago.

“Obviously, I am very upset about 'TT' leaving because this should never happen. I wasn’t here, you know. But I know what should have happened and didn’t happen – you are losing a player that is 24 and he will only be at his best at 30 because he is a centre-back,” said Hunt during his post-match conference. 

Ditlhokwe has signed a four-year contract with Amakhosi and will join them on 1 July, unless the two clubs can agree for his early release, which SABC Sport believes has a slim chance of happening. 

The defender has missed Matsatsantsa's previous three matches due to injury, but it remains to be seen whether Hunt will continue using him once he’s back given the latest development around his future. 

“They [centre-backs] improve as they get older. He has improved immensely in this first round [of the season] since I’ve been here,” the coach added. 

“He’s got two or three goals, which he hadn’t done [before Hunt arrived]. We were working on that, he is defending well. All the work that other coaches have done here before, he was coming good and been a rock for the club. It’s highly disappointing.”