'What do I know about football? I know less and less - Anyway‚ I’m not going to get involved,' says Hunt

“This is the best one‚” Gavin Hunt exclaimed after winning his fourth league title and first for Bidvest Wits in their 96-year history with Wednesday night’s 2-0 Absa Premiership win against Polokwane City.

It is not often you will see a tough-as-nails‚ hard-to-please man like Hunt shed tears.

It said much of the effort the coach has put into building Wits into a force in South African football that Hunt could not hold back the tears in his post-match TV interview on an emotional night at Bidvest Stadium.

After three seasons of being nearly men under Hunt‚ finishing third‚ third and second in the league‚ and with no cup trophies‚ 2016-17 has paid back the dividends and then some for Wits with an MTN8 and PSL double.

• 'We need to congratulate Wits and Gavin - they’ve done very well‚ they fought for it,' says MosimanePitso Mosimane said Mamelodi Sundowns retaining their title this year “was not meant to be” and sportingly congratulated Bidvest Wits‚ but not without reminding again of his team’s burdensome last 12 months and their greater importance of the African Champions League title when compared to the Premier Soccer League. 

In doing so‚ Hunt put to rest suggestions he had lost his league title-winning edge‚ joining Ted Dumitru and Gordon Igesund on four championships.

At 52‚ and with the drive as strong as ever for the ultra-competitive coach‚ there are surely more to come.

“This is the best one. Well‚ every one is the best one‚ isn’t it?” Hunt said‚ having recovered his characteristic gruff composure speaking to the press.

• Bidvest Wits crowned PSL champions with a game to spare Bidvest Wits became league champions first time in their history on Wednesday night in the finest style of professionalism that has been the great South African club's hallmark of their 96-year history. 

“It’s just crazy. But to do it with a club of this size and magnitude‚ I think it's a great achievement.

“Like what I did with Seven Stars – for me that’s the greatest achievement ever in my life. To go unbeaten in 75 games.

“This for me is the biggest achievement‚ because taking a club of this size to win in South Africa is not easy.”

• 'We have achieved something that no-one would have expected‚ not even myself to be honest' - TinklerEric Tinkler has admitted a tinge of regret that his Cape Town City side could not pull off what would have been a remarkable Absa Premiership title victory in the maiden season of the newly-formed team. 

Asked about doubts that had been raised‚ compounded by being overlooked for the Bafana Bafana job yet again as Stuart Baxter was appointed this month‚ Hunt replied with his characteristic mix of sarcasm and dry‚ to-the-point humour.

“What do I know about football? I know less and less. Anyway – I’m not going to get involved here now. OK‚ can I go?”

Somewhat awkwardly deflected‚ but point made.

• Hunt's rivals shower him with praise after leading Wits to a maiden PSL titleCape Town City coach Eric Tinkler and his Lamontville Golden Arrows counterpart Clinton Larsen were quick to offer their praise of new Absa Premiership champions Bidvest Wits‚ saying they believe the club are deserved champions. 

Wits have played an aggressive brand of front foot‚ physical‚ technically proficient‚ percentage football that few teams could contend with in 2016-17.

It was almost a replica of the dominant SuperSport United Hunt guided to successive titles from 2008 to 2010.

Never pleased‚ Hunt believes Wits could have wrapped up the title – going to 60 points‚ four clear of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns‚ on Wednesday – earlier than with a game to spare.

• Jonevret on the brink of becoming the first Pirates coach to finish outside the top eight in the PSL eraThe record books might not tell the whole story‚ but Kjell Jonevret is facing the dubious distinction of being recognised as the man who presided over Orlando Pirates when they finished outside the top eight for the first time in the club’s history in the PSL era. 

“To be fair‚ we should have won this league (earlier). I mean‚ we’ve stumbled.

“In December‚ we drew four games‚ we lost to Cape Town City here in the 90th minute.

“We should have been well clear. But‚ you know‚ we got ourselves back in the race. And any time you make 60 points and above you’ve done well.

“We could have done it much easier. But we’ve done it‚ so don’t worry about it – what’s gone is gone.”

• If you want to win the league title‚ just sign serial winner Daine KlateDaine Klate is now the Premier Soccer League’s clearly most decorated player‚ earning a sixth league title and capping a special evening with Bidvest Wits’ second goal in their championship-clinching 2-0 win against Polokwane City on Wednesday night. 

And Hunt has no plans to rest. Success breeds expectation‚ and Hunt knows Wits will want more now they’ve had a taste of it.

“What do you expect? They (the club) are going to expect an improvement. That’s fine if you sign players.

“But I mean‚ we’ve got what we’ve got‚ and we’ll battle away. As long as we keep the mentality of‚ ‘Don’t get ahead of ourselves and battle away’‚ we can achieve.”

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport