WOMAN ON A MISSION

Living up to her legacy, Keegan Hunt is tackling new milestones every day

By Robin Adams | Photography: Skhu Nkomphela

Movie buffs will well know that the name Hunt is linked to the lead characters of a number of Hollywood blockbuster flicks. It’s always Hunt to the rescue or Hunt saving the day. The name is synonymous with strength and heroism in a land of high-priced fiction.

In the real world, it’s also a name with gravitas. Especially in South African football circles.

Chances are Gavin Hunt, one of the most recognisable names in coaching in Mzansi, has been in charge of your favourite club at some point. The former Bidvest Wits and Kaizer Chiefs boss earns his money with Chippa United in Gqeberha these days. Football has long been a staple in the Hunt house.

So it’s no surprise then that daughter Keegan’s love for the sport has its origins there, and at a young age. Her grandfather is John ‘Budgie’ Byrne, former Crystal Palace and West Ham United footballer, and England international. Byrne was a deadly striker for the London clubs and continued his career in South Africa for the now defunct Durban City in the early 1970s. He later became manager of that club before heading up Cape-based side Hellenic.

Football and the Hunt family are inextricably linked.

“Football was always naturally going to be a part of my life,” chuckles a 23-year-old Hunt, whose twin sister Kaitlin is just as passionate about the beautiful game. “We’re always chatting football; we bounce ideas. She has a lot of football knowledge. She could be a journalist or a football commentator. We’re always watching the games and talking formations.”

Match days are incredibly tense occasions at the Hunt headquarters, mainly because allegiances are so divided. The battle lines are properly drawn.

“There are family feuds in the house when the football’s on. We all have our own separate TVs,” she laughs.

And that’s no understatement when loyalties look like this:

Dad — Unknown, but his children joke that he’s a closet Manchester United supporter

Mum — West Ham United

Keegan — Liverpool

Kaitlin — Arsenal.

KICKING IT WITH KEEGAN

Keegan Hunt is a UWC BSc graduate, a physiotherapist at 2 Military Hospital in Wynberg, captain of the UWC hockey team, a Premier League tennis player and head coach of the women’s team at Hellenic Football Club. Her hobbies include reading, running and going to the gym, and she is currently working towards her professional coaching licence.

Football team: Liverpool Favourite movie:Coach Carter Best dish to cook: Butter chicken Favourite song: ‘Rock with you’ – Michael Jackson Dream destination: The Caribbean Ambitions: To coach a PSL team

Hunt says she is a simple creature. “I’m fun-loving. I like to make people laugh and smile; I want to make a difference every day. And as I wake up, I’m just grateful for everything.”

Keegan is perhaps an unusual name choice for a girl but she has her father’s admiration for Liverpool legend and two-time Ballon d’Or winner Kevin Keegan to thank for that. Her passion for the Merseyside club could then easily be attributed to the man who spent six years as a player at Anfield.

Football, however, is but a small cog in the wheel of Hunt’s rather busy yet interesting life. She’s the captain of UWC’s hockey team, plays premier league tennis for a Milnerton club and coaches Hellenic’s women’s team.

But wait, there’s more.

Keegan has a full-time day job, too. Armed with her Bachelor of Sciences (BSc) degree from UDubs, she is a practising physiotherapist at 2 Military Hospital in Wynberg.

One has to wonder, where does she find the time? Especially as, in-between it all, she still goes to the gym regularly, spends time with family and cheers for her Mighty Red Men whenever they are playing a game.

“I’m youthful and young, I’m still a well-oiled machine. I’m an exercise enthusiast. If I am not working then I am outdoors, running, exercising. They say, the busier you are, the more time you have. I find a lot of time. I have always been structured,” she says proudly.

And it’s that structure that has allowed her to dream, and chase those dreams with serious gusto. Hunt is particularly invested in her coaching gig. “I am really trying to drive women’s football and be as influential as I can be in the game, so it’s a great opportunity for me to be a mentor to them [the players] as well as a coach.”

She is currently completing her professional coaching licenses. And the plan is to one day feature in the big leagues.

“Who’s to say a woman can’t coach in the PSL (Premier Soccer League)? Or in the men’s league?” she asks. “I think that would be amazing. A big ambition would be to do that. Maybe be the first female coach in the men’s league.”

Hunt doesn’t have to look very far for inspiration in terms of her managerial ambitions.

Her father has more accolades than some of us have had Sunday lunches. PSL Coach of the Year multiple times, four league titles, three Cup trophies – the man’s an achiever, finish en klaar. He led SuperSport United to three straight Premiership crowns from 2007.

Football isn’t called the beautiful game for nothing. The sport continuously serves up storylines that tug at the heartstrings. So it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that one day we could see two members of the Hunt family on the pitch, managing different teams.

Daddy Gavin versus daughter Keegan. You’d love to see it.