In a candid and comical trip down memory lane, former SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt opened up about an unusual solution he once used to help a struggling striker find form.

During an interview with iDiski Dine, Hunt recalled how he first spotted Senegalese striker Mame Niang under extreme conditions.

“I went to Dakar, and it was 45 degrees Celsius. This guy was playing on a sand pitch in that kind of heat and still heading the ball like a beast,” Hunt said. “I thought, ‘If I bring this guy to South Africa, I’ll make a million.’”

Hunt did just that—he signed Niang and brought him to SuperSport United. But things didn’t go as planned initially.

“He couldn’t speak English, and that was a big problem,” Hunt admitted. “In his first four games, he didn’t score. My club owner started questioning the decision to bring him in.”

As frustration built, Hunt trusted his instincts and offered a rather unconventional fix to the problem.

“I figured he needed something else to help him settle,” the coach said with a laugh. “There was this girl who always chatted to him, so I went up to her and said, ‘Do me a favor—he’s new here, he’s struggling. Can you take him on a date?’ I gave her a few hundred rand.”

According to Hunt, the plan worked like magic. After spending time with the woman, Niang began to find his rhythm on the pitch and soon started scoring.

“He just needed to feel at home, and that helped him settle in,” Hunt said with a grin. “Sometimes, football isn’t just about tactics—it’s about understanding your players.”

It’s one of those offbeat, behind-the-scenes tales that highlight the human side of the beautiful game—and the unconventional lengths coaches sometimes go to help their players thrive.