Hunt out to keep the underdog spirit alive

DURBAN City coach Gavin Hunt is hoping his side can ride the wave of “Carling Knockout Cup magic” as they prepare for a tough quarterfinal showdown against Richards Bay at the Mhlathuze Sport Complex tomorrow at 3pm.

- SMISO MSOMI

GAVIN Hunt, coach of Durban City FC, and his players during the Carling 2025 Carling Knockout Cup Last 8 Media Day in Durban.

(BackpagePix)

Since the competition’s rebranding under Black Label, the tournament has built a reputation for upsets — a platform where smaller teams have shone brightest.

Stellenbosch FC and Magesi FC were the last two champions, lifting the trophy in back-to-back seasons despite being considered underdogs.

For Hunt, who has seen and won it all in South African football, that unpredictability is exactly what makes the Carling Knockout special.

“In South Africa, especially this cup, there’s a lot of smaller teams that have gotten through to the latter stages, and so we'll see where that takes us,” Hunt said ahead of the tie.