Gavin Hunt says hard work was the secret to Bidvest Wits clinching their maiden Absa Premiership title with one game left to be played in the campaign.

Hunt joined an illustrious list of coaches alongside Gordon Igesung and Ted Dumitru, who have clinched the PSL title four times and a visibly emotional Hunt stated that the journey to success was not easy.

‘We’ve done well away as well, but it’s a culmination of hard work,’ he said in post-match comments.

‘It wasn’t easy… Yoh! Can’t really talk much!

‘When I first came here, I looked at this squad and I said that I didn’t think the team was good enough. And I’ve been here for four years now – third, third, second and now champions!

‘So, it’s taken a long time to try and overhaul the team, change everything – change the mentality, how we want to do it, how we want to play. It takes time, and for a club like Bidvest Wits to win the league is unbelievable.

‘I had so many players who phoned me this morning, guys who are legends of the club. It’s a great achievement,’ he added.

The 52-year-old mentor called for Wits to be better in all the competitions they participate in and consoled title rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, who fought tooth and nail to the end.

‘Ja, we’ve got to push on and try and do better on all fronts. But it has given us a great platform. We’ve won two trophies this season, and I’m so proud of the players.

‘We haven’t had a team as we’ve been decimated by injuries every week, serious injuries, and the players dug in and it’s fantastic!

‘Tough luck on Sundowns. It’s been a tough race and we wish them well. They are the African champions and that is our inspiration, where we want to get to,’ he concluded.

Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix