SuperSport part ways with Cavin Johnson

After a poor start in the season coupled with uninspiring performances in the league, SuperSport United have parted ways with their coac,h Cavin Johnson, with an immediate effect.

SuperSport’s chief executive officer, Stan Matthews, confirmed that the club has parted ways with the 55-year-old coach. “We’ve had two coaches in 13 years and changing of coaches is not something we want at the club. But, like all PSL clubs, we are results-driven and want to compete with the best in the country in both the short and long term. The spate of recent losses does not reflect the quality in our squad,” he said.

Johnson had a relatively uninspiring stint at Matsatsantsa last season. With several talented players in the helm, SuperSport failed to win any silverware last season. At the start of this season they also hit a slump after they were knocked out of the MTN 8 Competition. Johnson, however, acknowledged his axing and said he did all he could do to build the team. “I was mandated to rebuild the team. I reduced the average age of the squad to 23 and we finished our first season in fifth position which was an improvement from the previous season,” he said.

He stated that the results could not come as he was busy rebuilding the team and experienced pressure to produce results. “This season we signed new players and again promoted others from the academy, but it takes time for a team to gel and for results to come. Unfortunately management wanted immediate results and that does not always work when building a young team for the future,” he concluded.

The club said their under-19 coach, Kaitano Tembo, will take charge of the team for their Saturday’s league match against the highflying Kaizer Chiefs. Tembo will be assisted by Matsatsantsa’s academy technical director Kwanele Kopo and Webster Lechaba. It is expected that United will make an announcement on their future coach next week. Speculations are rife that former Bafana Bafana coach, Gordon Igesund, will take over at the club.