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Who are the five most experienced coaches in the Premier Soccer League?

Gavin Hunt has been in the dug-out more than 1000 times in the PSL.
Gavin Hunt has been in the dug-out more than 1000 times in the PSL.STEVE HAAG / Alamy / Profimedia

There are a total of 17 top-flight coaches in the Premier Soccer League this season, with co-coaches at Kaizer Chiefs adding to the numbers.

It has been a season with casualties already at Chiefs and Chippa United, and newcomers to the scene at Marumo Gallants, Orlando Pirates, and Durban City.

The five most experienced coaches in the league make for interesting treading:

GAVIN HUNT

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The 61-year-old Hunt is setting a new record-breaking milestone for coaching in South Africa with every passing game in his 28th successive season in the domestic game. Durban City is his ninth different club since he won promotion with Seven Stars in 1998. His four league titles are bettered only by five for Pitso Mosimane. The former Hellenic and Cape Town Spurs fullback had a further two decades as a professional.

ERIC TINKLER

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Tinkler is the only player from the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations winning side who is coaching a top-flight team and now a coach with considerable experience, having started as caretaker at Wits University and then Orlando Pirates. The 55-year-old has had success with Cape Town City and SuperSport United and now has Sekhukhune United among the early season leaders.

MANQOBA MNGQITHI

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The 54-year-old is back at the club where he started in 2006, having previously been a high school teacher. He has been enhancing his reputation at Arrows since last season’s dismissal at Sundowns, with whom he won three championships and three cups. Mngqithi also holds the unwanted record of being the first coach to be sacked in the season for two campaigns in a row.

STEVE BARKER

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Barker, 57, coached both the University of Pretoria and Stellenbosch to promotion, but his big money move to AmaZulu in 2015 was a flop, as the team was relegated within months. His success at Stellenbosch marks him out as a potential successor to his uncle Clive as a future Bafana Bafana coach. He was a gritty midfielder at Wits University and SuperSport United in his playing days.

JOHN MADUKA

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After a harrowing last season with Royal AM, who were first suspended and then kicked out of the league, the former Malawi international has resurfaced at Magesi, taking over from Owen da Gama. Maduka was first the team manager at Bloemfontein Celtic before becoming co-coach with Lehlohonolo Seema and then having two spells at Royal AM and a brief, unsuccessful stint at Maritzburg United.