DStv Premiership league titles: Pitso leads Hunt, Igesund, and Ted

The DStv Premiership, dating back from the days it was called the Premier Soccer League before the big, big money, has been won by 10 coaches but only four men have lifted the crown more than once.

Here’s a look at the top four greatest ever coaches in the local game.

DSTV PREMIERSHIP’S TOP FOUR COACHES

Pitso Mosimane, Ted Dumitru, Gordon Igesund, and Gavin Hunt are legendary masters of winning the league in South African football. The four coaches have an extraordinary 17 titles between.

The four coaches had been tied on four titles each until Pitso Mosimane’s days of days came in 2020. The Kagiso-born coach became the first-ever coach to win five league titles in the Mzansi game.

Affectionately known as “Jingles,” the township-raised black trainer became the most iconic coach in the DStv Premiership.

GAVIN HUNT, GORDON IGESUND, AND TED DUMITRU

So, where do the other legends like Gavin Hunt rank? The great Gordon Igesund was the first coach to claim gold with a modest Manning Rangers squad in 1996/97. The Durbanite further went on to win titles with the likes of Santos and Orlando Pirates.

Other names in the hall of fame are Gavin Hunt with four titles at SuperSport United and Bidvest WIts, as well as the stylish Romanian master, Ted Dumitru. The late maestro with the dark sunglasses lifted four titles with Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs respectively.

Here is the ‘log table’ of PSL coaches…

1. Pitso Mosimane – Five titles

• 2013/14
• 2015/16
• 2017/18
• 2018/19
• 2019/20 (all Mamelodi Sundowns).

2. Gavin Hunt: Four titles

• 2007/8 SuperSport United
• 2008/9 SuperSport
• 2009/10 SuperSport
• 2016/17 Bidvest Wits

3. Gordon Igesund: Four titles

• 1996/7 Manning Rangers
• 2000/1 Orlando Pirates
• 2001/2 Santos
• 2006/7 Mamelodi Sundowns

4. Ted Dumitru: Four titles

• 1997/8 – Sundowns
• 1998/9 – Sundowns
• 2003/4 – Chiefs
• 2004/5 – Chiefs.

There you have it. The four masters of winning the DStv Premiership.

As far as the current coaching competitors, Kaizer Chiefs’ Stuart Baxter is on two titles – while the Mamelodi Sundowns co-coaching duo Rhulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi are edging towards two league titles this season.