SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt has named the player that 'saved his job' after an unexpected of talisman Teko Modise to Orlando Pirates.
The legendary South African coach recently celebrated reaching a massive 1000 matches in professional football.
Hunt has four league titles under his belt, three of which were won at SuperSport United in what was considered his most successful period as a coach.
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However, Hunt has revealed that the task was almost impossible as he lost his best player just weeks into his new job.
Thankfully, a replacement for that player would be the sensational Elias Pelembe who went on to win the PSL Footballer of the Season award that year.
"With Pelembe, it's an unbelievable story," Hunt recalls on Metro FM's SNAWA.
"My first season [at SuperSport United], we go away on pre-season and Teko Modise is my best player - he is my best player. I don't want to lose him.
"But the chairman called me and says we have to do the deal. I said where is he going? are you mad? He's our best player. They said he is going to Pirates - it's a week away from the season.
"Then they said but we've got someone for you, they said he's from Mozambique."
"I said oh I said Mozambican? They don't play there, they're fisherman there (jokingly). Nah I'm joking.
"Anyway, the guy arrives. His legs are the size of toothpicks. He weighs about 45kg and doesn't speak a word of English.
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"Anyway, he came on the training ground [for training] I ran off the pitch after 45 minutes to get on the phone [with the club owner] and I said sign this guy! Sign this guy!
"He won Player of the Year that season. He couldn't speak English. I used to have a full go at him and he would just say 'thank you coach'.(laughs).