Güther’s star fades after five weeks

Football
Mariud Ngula
  • 7 Hours Ago

Reigning Namibia Premiership champions African Stars yesterday parted ways with head coach Gerald Güther just over five weeks into his two-year contract.

The announcement came after the club’s Confederation of African Football (Caf) Champions League campaign ended in a 5-0 aggregate defeat to South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, following a 4-0 loss in Johannesburg on Friday.

The brief statement brought an end to his 37-day stint following his appointment on 21 September.

“African Stars FC wishes to announce that the Club has parted ways with Head Coach Gerald Güther. The Club thanks Coach Güther for his time and wishes him well in his future endeavours,” it read.

Stars did not provide reasons for the separation.


Short-lived ambitions

As reported by this publication last month, Güther succeeded Ronnie Kanalelo, who had left for South African Premiership side Marumo Gallants just two months after accepting his own two-year appointment with the Namibian champions.

The Swakopmund-based coach arrived with ambitions of helping Stars defend their league crown, challenge for domestic cup honours and strengthen the club’s newly established youth academy.

Güther told Sport Wrap at the time that he had been tasked with developing the academy’s U14 to U18 structures while establishing his football philosophy within the first team.

He had also expressed excitement about facing Pirates in the Champions League, describing the opportunity to take on the South African giants as “what football dreams are made of”.

However, those ambitions have come to an early end, leaving Stars facing another coaching change as they prepare to defend their domestic crown.

The club secured its fourth consecutive Namibia Premiership title last season after finishing with 58 points, one ahead of runners-up Eeshoke Chula Chula.

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