As legendary coach Gavin Hunt is set to be in charge of his 1000th game as a coach when SuperSport United host Golden Arrows at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday (17:45), the former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Mame Niang has opened up about how Hunt helped him to be the player he was. 

Hunt scouted Niang in Senegal in 2005 and then signed him to join Moroka Swallows. When Niang arrived in South Africa, he had some challenges and one of those was speaking English, but Hunt did not lose which kept him going. 

“In the beginning when I arrived in South Africa, it was challenging, and I remember I was crying in the first week then I told my brother that I was coming back because I couldn’t understand the language,” Niang told Sportswire. 

“So, it was a little bit challenging then my brother told me to stay. The first two weeks, coach Gavin Hunt was not happy about my performance. 

“Gavin called me into the office and asked my agent if this was not the player I saw in Senegal, he looked different. He told me that this is a new environment and I need to adapt to that. 

“I remember our first friendly game against Mamelodi Sundowns, I entered in the last 30 minutes and the fans were not happy about my performance. They were saying ‘sub him’ but Gavin had faith in me. 

“Sundowns was leading 2-0, I assisted the first goal then scored the equalizer. I changed the game within 15 minutes and all the fans wanted to take pictures with me.” 

 After playing for two seasons in the Dube Birds, Niang left the club to join VFL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. The former Swallows talisman came back in South Africa during the 2011/12 and had no team. 

Hunt, who was still with SuperSport then, decided to sign the former Wolfsburg striker with the Tshwane giants. 

“I’m so grateful to that person, and if there’s one person who knows me in and out it’s Gavin,” Niang declared. 

“As a coach, he gave me a lot and put me on the map. When I came back to South Africa he brought me back to play. 

 “We never had bad blood against each other. If I’m doing something wrong he would sit with me and tell me that this is wrong. All in all, he played a big role in my career, I’m who I am now because of him.” 

As the former Kaizer Chiefs coach is on 999 matches, he has won more than nine trophies including four league titles, and four Coach of the Season awards.