Butler to gravitate towards Platinum Stars
PLATINUM STARS are reportedly finalising matters to have former Botswana head coach, Peter Butler, as their new coach leading up to the next Absa Premiership season.
Dikwena parted ways with their former coach Cavin Johnson earlier this month, after he had failed to lead the club to a top eight finish this past season.
The team also failed to produce any form of silverware in all three knockout competitions (MTN8, Telkom Knockout and the Nedbank Cup) they were involved in this past season, while also currently struggling to produce results in their Caf Confederation Cup campaign.
As it stands, the Rustenburg-based outfit are currently bottom of their Group B mini-table with just a single point from their three outings in the second tier continental club knockout competition.
According to a source close to the club, Luc Eymael, who was forced to reunite with his former side Polokwane City by the PSL disciplinary committee about two months ago following his move to go and join Bloemfontein Celtic, was as also in the race.
However, the source remained mum as to why Batler seemed to be the favoured option over the Belgian-born coach.
“Luc was in the picture but it is Butler the club seems keen on getting for the new season,” the source explained.
“They are just finalising a few matters and it’s quite clear that he’ll be taking over (from the fired Johnson).”
Should those finer details of the contract be finalised this week, Butler will be forced to hit the ground running as Dikwena are hosting SFaxien of Tunisia next week Wednesday.
The three-time Caf Confederation Cup winners handed Dikwena a 3-0 hinding back in Tunis, that defeat counting as their second in their group fixtures following a drubbing at Mbabane Swallows. They drew at home with MC Alger of Algeria.
The first thing that Butler would need to sort out following his appointment is the defence as Dikwena have been conceding a whole number of goals in their continental club campaign.
The North West outfit suffered a 4-2 defeat against Swallows before their draw to MC Alger and loss in their tie against Sfaxien two weeks ago.
Butler will need to make sure that his side are watertight at the back and lethal in the attacking third in their remaining three Confederation Cup group fixtures if they are to stand any chance of fighting for a finish in the top two, which will see them progress into the quarterfinal stage.