What went wrong for the recent casualties in the PSL top-flight

The battle for respective honours in the top-flight often sees casualties season in and season out. And so, that's why in the past few months, a number of coaches have fallen on the wayside.

Gavin Hunt, the country's most capped coach with more than 1000 matches under his belt, was the latest tactician to lose his job after being released by SuperSport United on Friday morning.

Hunt joins a list of renowned personnel to be shown the door by their respective employers due to a string of poor results late last year and during the final stretch of the season.

These include Mushin Ertugral, Dan "Dance" Malesela, Lehlohonolo Seema, Eric Tinkler and Manqoba Mngqithi. And so, that's why Mihlali Baleka looks at what might have possibly gone wrong for these men.

Hunt - SuperSport United

Hunt is the most experienced in the league. And he doesn't only stand head and shoulders above the rest due to numbers, but he's won trophies as well.

Hunt has won four South African premier league titles, including a hat-trick with his now former employers, SuperSport, between 2008-2010.

However, be that as it may, Hunt has always believed in the traditional ways of coaching and playing football, despite equipping himself with the CAF A coaching license, recently, as well.

Hunt bemoaned that he had to stay true to his strong methods due to SuperSport's financial struggles, as well, as they didn't have enough depth or an analyst.

And so, it could have been that his way of coaching and club's struggles is what made him struggle to get the best out of the team. Hence, they are now flirting with relegation.

Ertugral - Cape Town City

Just like Hunt, Ertugral is also an 'old dog', and therefore it's difficult to teach him new tricks as he's accustomed to what works for his philosophy.

At City, he struggled with his 'usual' coaching methods as he failed to win a single game in the last eight outings in the league as the club decided to sack him before the FIFA break.

Ertugral had argued that he was used to the modern ways of coaching after being the technical advisor for the Turkish national team for the last six years.

But the reality is that he was 'not the coach nor doing the hard yards' with the players, but one of the people who had a say on who should come in or go out.

And just like any other job, people who hire and fire doesn't mean they are more qualified. And so, that could have counted against Ertugral as he didn't even start the TD job at City as well.

Malesela - Marumo Gallants 

Malesela is one of the coaches who believe 'local is lekker' as he wants his team to play football the South African way, which includes building up and dribbling but progressively.

His ethos has endeared him to the members of the football fraternity. But while his football has been appeasing the eye, it hasn't necessarily chalked up the mandate: results.

As such, that has made him to be a casualty at most of the teams he's coached in the PSL as the owners want nothing other than the team achieving their targets.

Gallants are back in the top-flight this season, and hired Malesela - not as a primary option - to keep the team afloat.

So after a string of poor results this year, they let go of Malesela. And such are the struggles of being unemployed in the country, Malesela has resurfaced at Baroka where he was also sacked.

Eric Tinkler - Cape Town City

Tinkler has had his fair share of success in coaching, including guiding City to their maiden trophy - the Telkom Knockout - in their first season in 2017.

However, his biggest achievement with the Citizens was finishing second in the league and qualifying for the CAF Champions League during his second stint.

But since that feat, Tinkler blew hot and cold. As such, the wheels came off last year as his team struggled across all competitions, resulting in his eventual dismissal on New Year's Eve.

His sacking was justifiable especially given the fact that he battled to get the best out of a formidable squad which was strengthened with numerous signings during the winter break.

What must have also frustrated chairman John Comitis is that Tinkler seemed to use players 'he preferred' and not those that actually came in to strengthen the team.

Manqoba Mngqithi - Mamelodi Sundowns

Mngqithi had spent more than 10 years at Sundowns. As such, when he finally ascended as the coach this season, that seemed befitting.

He was heavily criticised at first, though, as he said he preferred a quicker way of making box entries, instead of building from the back - a system that was preferred by Rulani Mokwena.

However, with time, his players seem to have bought into his vision as they climbed to the top of the standings and were in the running for a slot in Champions League quarter-final.

But Sundowns incredibly pulled the plug as they sacked him late last year, appointing Miguel Cardoso as the man in charge.

Mngqithi is still today bemused by his dismissal, but the team's rollercoaster run on the continent and loss to Magesi in the Carling Knockout final might have been his undoing.