Stars unveil new coach

Platinum Stars will enter the 2017/2018 season with a new face in the coaching department after the appointment of Peter Butler, who replaces Cavin Johnson following the club’s decision not to renew his contract.

Butler, a midfielder in his playing days in England, started coaching in 2000 as a caretaker manager for Halifax Town. He has since has had coaching spells in Australia and Malaysia, and joins Dikwena after a spell as coach of the Botswanan national team.

Despite the lack of experience in coaching an African club side, Butler comes highly rated by Dikwena chairman Cliff Ramoroa, who believes he will take the club to the next level.

Ramoroa said they had many candidates, but were highly impressed by the 50-year old.

“We interviewed a number of coaches and eventually Peter Butler came out tops out of the list of the coaches we had. His appointment shows our intentions to go to another level as a club,” the Dikwena chairman told reporters.

With other teams currently enjoying the off-season break, Dikwena have been hard at work due to their participation in the Caf Confederation Cup.

The Phokeng- based outfit, who are at the bottom of Group B in the group stages of the competition, host Tunisian Giants CS Sfaxien at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium tonight.

Stars have only one point so far, having drawn 1-1 with Algerian side MC Alger earlier in June. They have gone on to lose games against Mbabane Swallows and Sfaxien away from home, 4-2 and 3-0 respectively.

With Butler set to begin his tenure as Dikwena coach on July 1, assistant coach Willem Jackson will take charge of the team as they look to book their first win in the group stages.