Stellenbosch FC head coach Gavin Hunt has explained why he’s confident of challenging for the 2026 Carling Knockout Cup title.

The experienced coach has expressed optimism about pulling off a good run in the Carling Cup after being drawn against Durban City FC in this year’s competition.

Hunt has had an inconsistent start to the 2026/27 Betway Premiership season with Stellenbosch, trailing some of the early contenders in the league chase such as Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, AmaZulu FC and Kaizer Chiefs.

As it stands, Stellenbosch are sitting seventh on the log standing with 10 points having claimed two wins, four draws, and two defeats in eight matches.

WHAT GAVING HUNT SAID ABOUT CHALLENGING FOR THE CARLING KNOCKOUT CUP

The Winelands-based side will have an opportunity to lift a domestic trophy with the Carling Cup on the horizon. Stellenbosch coach Hunt has revealed that the history of underdogs in the CKO gives his side hope.

“Look, any cup competition is an opportunity; there’s always a chance [to win it],” Gavin Hunt said. “If you look at this competition, it has quite a lot of history of underdogs. There have been few underdogs winning the trophy.

“So it’s a matter of the draw; the draw is always important; who you play, where you play, but for us it’s difficult because we are playing away. But maybe Durban is home away from home because we used to play there. So it is what it is.”

Since the beginning of the Carling Knockout in 2023, the trophy has been won by Stellenbosch under the guidance of Steve Barker, Magesi FC in 2024, while Orlando Pirates won the trophy in the previous campaign.

Hunt, who is no stranger to winning cups in South African football, will be looking to deliver silverware for Stellenbosch. The former Kaizer Chiefs tactician has been with the Western Cape outfit since December 2025, after taking over from Barker, who left the club to take over the Simba SC job.

Meanwhile, Hunt is coming up against his former side, Durban City, in the Last 16 of the Carling Cup after spending the first half of the previous campaign at the helm of the KZN-based side.

The two sides will clash on Wednesday, 28th of October at Chatsworth Stadium with kickoff set for 19:00