Stellenbosch FC head coach Gavin Hunt has called on his team to deliver an immediate response when they host an in-form AmaZulu in the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-finals at Danie Craven Stadium, demanding a much-improved performance after letting down their home supporters in last week’s 2–0 Betway Premiership defeat to Chippa United.
When asked about what he has observed on the training ground in terms of his players’ reaction, Hunt believes that pre-match discussions and preparations will mean very little if his players fail to show a reaction on the field of play on Sunday night.
“Well, you know, it’s funny you say it like that. Um, the reaction I always say is on Saturday after the game. That’s the reaction, you know what I’m saying,” Hunt said.
“See it’s very difficult. You know people in football can talk and talk and talk and talk and say this, you know, and then come to the game and, you know, it’s pretty, we need a reaction on the pitch, you know what I’m saying?”
Hunt emphasized that midweek preparation does not guarantee weekend success.
“So, we’ve had a nice week of training so far in terms of, you know, what we are trying to do and that. But, you know, that means nothing. Because at the end of the day, you know, you could have a brilliant week of training, lose the weekend, have a bad week of training, win the weekend, you know what I’m saying?”
Hunt expects his players to be “locked in” from the opening kickoff, pointing to attitude and mental preparation as the decisive factors for Sunday’s cup tie.
“So you need to get the reaction on the pitch and. And it starts in the 1st whistle, you know what I’m saying? You see the body language and those type of things. So it’s a mind shift. I always say, you know what I’m saying?”
The Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final clash between Stellenbosch FC and AmaZulu is scheduled to kick off at 18h00 on Sunday, 8 November 2026 at Danie Craven Stadium. Tickets are availble in digital-format only for R100 from Open Tickets outlets.
Written by: Diski Voice
