City snap up Patosi from Lokeren
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. The acquisition of midfielder Ayanda Patosi (below) shows just how serious Cape Town City are regarding challenging for silverware in the country, says former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana defender Edward Motale.
The 24-year-old Patosi, who joins City from Belgian side Lokeren SC, will be playing for the first time in the Absa Premiership and was officially unveiled by City last week.
Eric Tinkler’s side did tremendously well in their first season in the Premiership, winning the Telkom Knockout and finishing third in the league.
“This is a very ambitious team,” said Motale. “Signing Patosi is a sign they are looking to do much better than they did last season.”
“We all know Patosi is a great player even though he has not played in the PSL before. He has done well when he was called up for Bafana Bafana and I have no doubt he will do the same at Cape Town City.
“City were superb going forward with Lebogang Manyama and Aubrey Ngoma getting the goals, and now with the addition of Patosi, they will be more powerful.”
Meanwhile, Motale adds that this will put a lot of pressure on Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs to make a point of signing top players who will be able to end the teams’ misery following a dismal season.
“The fans want to see them (Pirates and Chiefs) doing well. They have to go in the market and find the right players. The last two seasons haven’t been good to the Soweto teams, so now they have to make an impact in the transfer window.”
Meanwhile, City announced another signing yesterday, unveiling Mozambique captain Jeitoso to strengthen their defence.