Gavin Hunt's momentous milestone as he reached the 1000th match as head coach was marred by unexpected circumstances when their clash against Lamontville Golden Arrows faced abandonment due to a power outage caused by the much-discussed load-shedding. The match, held at the famed Lucas Moripe Stadium, was abandoned shortly after the break, leaving both teams and fans waiting in the dark.
It was meant to be a grand celebration for Hunt, who has been well-respected in South African football for his achievements. Upon his entry to the pitch, he received accolades in the form of a guard of honor as he walked onto the field, acknowledging the significance of the occasion.
SuperSport United faced Arrows, and early on, Hunt's side took the lead with Christian Saile scoring just four minutes after kickoff. Chiming with the sentiment, fans felt the energy surging through the stadium. The first half displayed dominance from United with several promising passes and the early goal seemed to lay down the mark for what was to be expected.
Yet, the clock struck 22 minutes, and the light fixtures of Moripe Stadium dimmed, sending the game spiraling toward confusion. Referee Siyabulela Qunta halted the match realizing the severity of the blackouts, triggered by stage six load-shedding affecting numerous areas across South Africa.
After attempts were made to restart the game following the initial 10-minute delay, it became evident the power issues were not resolved. Velemseni Ndwandwe capitalized on this brief opportunity, scoring the equalizer just minutes after the game resumed and delighting the Arrows squad.
But as the game settled back, the experience turned sour; as the daylight faded, it increasingly became difficult for players to maintain visibility of the ball. Subsequently, the lights remained off long enough for the officials to believe the match could no longer proceed. The audience, still buzzing from the initial excitement, found themselves groping for answers amid murmurs and confusion. "The referee has abandoned the match, so there’s no way we can restart it now," match commissioner Lebogang Daniels elaborated on the decision.
This match cancellation marked the second consecutive game undermined by external issues for the Arrows, who recently faced another fixture getting called off due to adverse weather conditions. Their coach, Musa Bilankulu, expressed his frustration explicitly, pointing out, "I feel very bad for the boys... we are falling behind with matches." His sentiments were synchronized with Hunt's reaction; both coaches regretted the interruption and hoped to resume regular play soon.
Despite the disappointment surrounding the match's outcome, Hunt revealed his characteristic resilience, stating, "We’ll have to play it some other time; they have to reschedule it somewhere... it is what it is—mother nature, there’s nothing you can do about it." Such humility and positive reflection highlight Hunt's longstanding commitment to the sport, even when faced with unforeseen challenges.
The league officials are set to announce the timing for the rescheduled match. Hunt's pursuit for his 1000th competitive coaching milestone will have to endure delay, but his impressed legacy and the admiration from fans remain intact. The determination of both these teams continues to echo through the Premier Soccer League, far transcending this unfortunate incident.