Gavin Hunt has challenged Ashley du Preez to fight his way back into Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana setup after securing his move to Stellenbosch FC.

The Stellenbosch head coach believes the forward holds his national team destiny entirely in his own hands as he works to regain sharp match fitness in the Cape Winelands.

Du Preez and utility man Njabulo Blom recently completed shifts to Stellenbosch, injecting vital top-flight experience into Hunt’s squad. Both players arrived with significant expectations, but Hunt is keeping their immediate focus firmly on earning consistent minutes on the pitch before looking toward international call-ups.

Speaking on the adaptation of his new arrivals, Hunt revealed a frank conversation he held with Du Preez regarding his prospects with the national team.

"I said to him, if you look at the Bafana side, you were there at that stage," Hunt stated. "If he gets a few games under his belt, who knows—get back in the squad, so it’s up to him."

The former Kaizer Chiefs attacker has flashed international-caliber potential in spurts throughout his career, but inconsistent game time hindered his momentum. Hunt’s message makes it clear that reputation alone will not guarantee a spot in the Stellenbosch starting lineup, let alone a return to the national setup.

Blom finds himself in a similar boat as he works to establish rhythm in the midfield. Both players represent high-reward projects for Stellenbosch, yet Hunt refuses to rush their integration or hand out guaranteed minutes.

The timing could not be more critical for Du Preez. Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has repeatedly stated that only players performing regularly at club level will feature in his international plans. With competitive fixtures piling up, regular game time at Stellenbosch offers Du Preez a direct path back into contention if he delivers performance on the pitch.

Hunt's pragmatic approach puts the full burden of performance onto the players themselves. Stellenbosch fans will be watching closely to see whether Du Preez takes his coach's words to heart during their upcoming league fixtures.

Source:https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2115100614665396485