Stars appoint Johnson as coach
Platinum Stars have appointed Cavin Johnson as head coach for the next three years, ending their search for a new boss following the departure of Owen da Gama.
Johnson and Allan Freese had been in charge of the side since March as co-coaches, leading the side away from the relegation after a club record five away wins in a row.
Stars spread their net far and wide in search of a new boss, but in the end returned to Johnson as head coach, with Freese and Willem Jackson acting as his assistants. Goalkeeper coach Alex Heredia will also be retained.
“We offered Cavin a long-term contract as head coach because we believe that he is the right man to take the club to greater heights,” Stars general manager Jason Raine said.
“We subscribe to continuity at Stars, Cavin and his team did a great job in helping us remain in the Premiership. They have laid a solid foundation and we want them to continue where they left off last season.”
Raine says that although they received a tremendous number of CVs from around the world, they decided to look internally first.
“It made business sense to appoint him [Johnson], Allen and Willem to continue with the great job they did for us towards the end of last season,
“Cavin is an experienced coach with an incredible track record in South African soccer at junior and senior level,” explained Raine.
Johnson has worked with various other top Premiership clubs, including Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town.
Prior to coaching in the Premiership, Johnson made a name for himself in development soccer after working at the SAFA/Transnet School of Excellence.
Some of his successful products at the School of Excellence include Bafana Bafana captain Steven Pienaar, Dominic Isaacs, Nkosinathi Nhleko, Masilo Modubi, Shaun Potgieter, Bernard Parker, Daine Klate and Richard Rantjie.
Raine said Johnson will continue overseeing the club’s youth academy, which is being restructured. “We will make an announcement once the restructuring process has been completed.”
