Pirates goalie Chaine haunted by Hunt’s remarks

Sipho Chaine’s cynical laugh when asked about Gavin Hunt’s remarks about goalkeepers winning the PSL top gong was quite telling.

The Orlando Pirates goalie clearly disagrees with PSL’s longest-serving coach’s opinion that goalkeepers shouldn’t be contenders for the Footballer of the Season accolade.

Hunt aired his opinion after Mamelodi Sundowns goalie Williams was tipped to win the prestigious award.

Bafana Bafana shot-stopper Williams has been in great form this season. He has kept 18 clean sheets and only conceded 10 goals in 26 DStv Premiership matches.

With such impressive statistics, it is hard to ignore Williams’ name for consideration for the Player of the Season award.

But Hunt, who barely shies away from sharing his views, even if they ruffle feathers, said: “It is not a good sign that a goalkeeper should win the player of the year in a team [Sundowns] like they have.

“Goalkeepers win you games. But when you are so dominant and a goalkeeper is winning the Player of the Year, then I don’t know.”

In response to Hunt’s remarks, Sipho Chaine said the SuperSport United coach is entitled to his own opinion.

Hunt is one of 16 DStv Premiership coaches set to vote in the Footballer of the Season category.

“I think everyone has their own opinions on who can be Footballer of the Season and who shouldn’t be Footballer of the Season,” said Chaine.

“We are also football players, and I don’t know if he [Williams] has done well for his respective football club. But if he deserves it, then why not?

“And speaking from a goalkeeper’s perspective, I think It could be anyone. A football team is made up of 11 players, and a goalkeeper is one of them, and I don’t see why,” added the Pirates goalkeeper.

In addition, Chaine also explained why he believes goalkeepers get overlooked for big awards in football.

In recent years in SA’s topflight, Itumeleng Khune is the only goalie to have won the Footballer of the Season ward.

“It is a life of a goalkeeper; we wear a different colour,” said Chaine. “I don’t know why we are overlooked, but I think we get credit where we deserve to get credit.

“Football is about winning, and the winning team must score. You won’t always win, but the team that wins the most is the better team.”

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