THE BACKPAGE phakaaathi.co.za Stars sack Johnson
TIME IS UP: CLUB TOOK DECISION AFTER THE SIDE’S TWO DEFEATS IN AFRICA
Gordon Igesund tipped to be in the mix for the position.
Cavin Johnson has become the latest coach in the Premier Soccer League to find himself without a job. This comes after Platinum Stars decided against renewing the 58-yearold’s contract for the 2017/18 campaign.
Johnson guided Dikwena to the group stages of the Caf Confederation Cup for their first time in the club’s history, but has failed to get results in Africa. The decision not to extend Johnson’s stay with the Rustenburg club comes after the side lost 3-0 away to Tunisian side CS Sfaxien in the Confederation Cup match on Sunday.
Before that defeat, Stars were beaten 4-2 by Swaziland’s Mbabane Swallows before they drew with MC Alger of Algeria, to see them on the verge of falling out of the group stages at the midway stage having taken just a single point.
After a sterling run in the 2015/16 Absa Premiership that saw them finish in fourth place, Stars’ management may have expected more of the same this season, but the former SuperSport United mentor failed to live up to his own standards as he failed to qualify the club for the MTN8 after – they missed out on eighth position to Golden Arrows by a single point.
Club chairman Cliff Ramoroa believes Johnson’s departure is the first step towards elevating the club.
“We would like to move to another level. We believe a change of this nature would really bring someone who will take the club to another level. The club is in the process of restructuring in order to take us to another dimension,” he said in a statement released by the club.
“We will be able to make an announcement concerning the new coach before the beginning of next season.”
Former Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund is earmarked as one of the favourites to succeed Johnson, as he has been without a job after parting ways with relegated Highlands Park.
Igesund, however, told Phakaaathi he can’t talk about whether he is interested in the job or not, or whether he has been approached for the position.
The 60-year-old coach asked the paper to contact him later in the week.