PSL coach reveals how he missed out on ‘expensive’ Maseko 

Stellenbosch FC head coach Gavin Hunt has shed light on why the club was unable to secure the signature of highly-rated winger Thapelo Maseko, who has left Mamelodi Sundowns for Danish giants FC Copenhagen.

Hunt, a four-time league-winning coach, expressed his strong desire to sign Maseko, particularly after the departure of Langelihle Phili to Kaizer Chiefs left his squad lacking depth on the flanks—an area he has prioritised throughout his 30-year coaching career.

However, the veteran manager explained that a deal for the talented winger was simply out of reach financially for the Cape-based club.

Hunt on why he really wanted Maseko

“We tried to get him,” Hunt confirmed to the media as per iDiski Times. “Obviously, we try to get one or two. I like natural wingers.”

Hunt elaborated on his preference for traditional wing play, lamenting the modern trend of using inverted wingers and the resulting lack of quality service for strikers.

“You know, left-footed on the left, right-footed on the right. I mean, I think a lot of teams have big strikers, but they get no service,” he stated. “You need service, and 99% of the time, a lot of these big strikers now at the big clubs in South Africa are just watching their team all day.”

PSL laments expensive Sundowns winger

“The ball should be coming in with a nice shape, but it’s all inverted now. So I can’t find anybody. It’s a real problem,” Hunt continued. “I’m not going to get the player I want because that costs money.”

Thapelo Maseko arrives in Copenhagen ahead of official unveiling at #FCK 🇿🇦✍️ pic.twitter.com/q7lVKQDqqV

— Lorenz Köhler (@Lorenz_KO) August 15, 2026

Recalling his conversation about Maseko, Hunt added: “Like, I wanted Maseko. When he went for R28 million, he earned a million rand a month. I said, Rob, can we get him? Yeah, let’s try. Yeah, sure we tried…”

Maseko arrived in Denmark on Saturday ahead of his high-profile move to FC Copenhagen in a deal estimated to be worth around R28 million in transfer fees to Sundowns.