Gavin Hunt targeting top eight in Richards Bay clash

While they lost their last three matches on the spin, Hunt noted that their opponents are tough to play against at Umhlathuze Stadium, a venue at which they beat Kaizer Chiefs the last time they played there. 

Conversely, Stellies have not lost a league match since Hunt arrived at the club in January, but says they must tread carefully against the Natal Rich Boyz.

"Obviously Richards Bay don't lose too many games here and they've had some big victories here so it's not going to be easy for us.

"For us, a win would boost us into the top eight comfortably, but right now we are just trying to take it one game at a time and not get too far ahead of ourselves."

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Stellenbosch have not kicked a ball in anger in over two weeks due to the FIFA international break and the Nedbank Cup, and Hunt – known to prefer regular football for his teams – says this may affect the momentum they’ve had this year. They have a demanding month of April ahead of them with fixtures against Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates also lying in wait.

One of the contributing factors to Hunt’s success at the Cape Winelands side has been Tshegofatso Mabasa, who also arrived at the club in January on loan from Pirates and has netted seven goals for them already. 

The four-time league-winning coach spoke about what a fully fit Mabasa can do for his team.

"Mabasa has come in and scored a few goals. He certainly wasn't fit enough in terms of playing 90 minutes, but he's got an eye for goal there's no two ways about it. If he gets us three or four more goals over the next eight games, we will certainly get ourselves up the league."

The club which finished in third place last season has had their struggles this season, and even found themselves languishing perilously at the wrong end of the Betway Premiership table. 

With only eight games to go now, Hunt outlined his plans to make sure they finish inside the top eight come end of the season.

"In our first 8 games together we collected sixteen points, and if we can collect two points a game in our last eight matches then we will definitely make the top eight, but it's going to be tough - we've got Sundowns away, Polokwane City and Richards Bay away from home. We really have to be on it."