Gavin Hunt believes his side were unlucky not to have walked away with a share of the spoils after a narrow defeat to AmaZulu on Saturday.

The 2026-27 Betway Premiership campaign kicked off in disappointing fashion for Stellenbosch FC, who suffered a 1-0 defeat to AmaZulu in their season-opener at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.

Match report | Stellenbosch suffer opening day defeat to AmaZulu

The tie was ultimately settled by a solitary goal from Usuthu striker Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya, who converted from the penalty spot to earn his side all three points.

Speaking after the match, Stellies head coach Gavin Hunt said, “I’m disappointed. I don’t think we deserved to lose the game, not by one iota. They got the break, got the penalty, and there’s not much more you can say about it. But I don’t believe we deserved to lose that game, not at all.

The result compounded the coach’s existing frustrations that the match, a home fixture for Stellenbosch, was played outside of the Western Cape.

He added, “It’s not easy. You can accept a defeat like this with all the circumstances that have been going on, but it still leaves a bitter taste in the mouth…

“But we’ve got to take it and move on and try to build from here. We’re not going to make excuses. We must soldier on and look at the positives. There were times where I thought we dominated the game in terms of possession and territory, but they play you on the turnover, and they’re quick.

Statement | Why Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium hosted Stellenbosch FC’s home opener

“Every time they looked dangerous was after we had the ball. They didn’t play through us; it was when we turned the ball over to them. It was the same with their goal. We lost the ball on the halfway line when we were in possession, so it’s frustrating.”

Stellenbosch FC will be in action again on 11 August when the team from the Winelands takes on Polokwane City at Seshego Stadium in Polokwane.