Johanneburg – When the Absa Premiership resumes on Saturday after a two-and-a-half week break, a fresh batch of
newly-appointed coaches will be eager to make their mark.
Platinum Stars, Moroka Swallows and Chippa United all parted ways with their mentors in the last week to bring the number of coaching changes in the Premiership to a staggering 17 since the beginning of the season.
The Birds’ appointed Craig Rosslee at the helm, replacing Fani Madida who quit earlier in the season while Goodman Mazibuko took charge for one match in the interim. The relegation-threatened Swallows languish in second last place on the log, but Rosslee will still have time to find a winning formula with his side’s next league encounter scheduled for April 15.
Stars announced on Tuesday they had acquired the services of Cavin Johnson ahead of their match at home to Ajax Cape Town at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
The Rustenburg side parted ways with Allan Freese after his charges went down 2-1 at home to Maritzburg United in their previous match.
Johnson re-joins the side he led almost two years ago, when he helped the team to their highest ever league finish with second on the log in the 2012/2013 season.
Stars sit just two points above the relegation zone in 13th place on the table with eight games remaining, and cashing-in on their home ground advantage against the fifth-placed Cape side could prove difficult.
On Monday, news filtered in that Chippa United had suspended coach Ernst Middendorp pending an investigation, to leave the 12th-placed team on the Premiership log precariously poised with six games remaining in their season.
Mich D’Avray, Chippa’s technical director will take charge until the club finds a permanent replacement as coach. D’Avray will be assisted by Fadlu Davids.
Middendorp was winless in seven games since taking control of the side from Roger Sikhakhane in January, and seemingly could not survive the chop.
Chippa, known for changing their coaches with regularity, had witnessed Costa Papic’s resignation in September, in keeping with that theme.
Remarkably only five teams can boast the same coach with which they began the season, as Stuart Baxter (Kaizer Chiefs), Steve Komphela (Maritzburg United), Gavin Hunt (Bidvest Wits), Roger de Sa (Ajax Cape Town) and Pitso Mosimane (Mamelodi Sundowns) have kept their jobs.
While the weekend will not see the league’s top three teams in action, the mid-table clash between Wits (fourth) and Polokwane City (seventh) at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium should provide ample insight as to how the break affected the teams. With a win, Wits could draw level on 43 points with Pirates in third place, but still behind on goal difference.
Fixtures, Saturday: AmaZulu v Free State Stars (Moses
Mabhida Stadium), Maritzburg United v SuperSport United (Harry Gwala Stadium),
Platinum Stars v Ajax Cape Town (Royal Bafokeng Stadium), Polokwane City v
Bidvest Wits (Old Peter Mokaba Stadium).
Sunday: Bloemfontein Celtic v University of Pretoria (Kaizer
Sebothelo Stadium). – ANA