Belgian Coach Tom Saintfiet Takes Charge at South Africa’s Free State Stars
Tom Saintfiet, the Belgian coach who recently missed out on the Togo national team job, has quickly found a new challenge in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League. Saintfiet has signed with Free State Stars, a club that struggled last season, finishing 14th out of 16 teams, and is now aiming for a fresh start under his leadership.
Saintfiet’s appointment reunites him with a familiar figure in Bethlehem, Malawi’s Kinnah Phiri, who has been serving as the club’s assistant coach since December 2013. The two previously worked together during Saintfiet’s tenure as head coach of Malawi’s national team, the Flames. It was Phiri who recommended Saintfiet to Free State Stars’ management, paving the way for this new collaboration.
In addition to taking charge of the club, Saintfiet will have the opportunity to work with Togolese striker Camaldine Abraw, now in his second season at Free State Stars. This provides the coach a direct connection to Togolese football, even though he was unable to bring in the full squad he had hoped for when applying for the Togo national team position.
Saintfiet wasted no time making his presence felt at the club. He led his first training session on Monday and was formally introduced to the players the previous Saturday, signaling the start of a new era for the team.
With his experience managing African national sides and clubs, Saintfiet aims to steer Free State Stars away from last season’s relegation zone and towards greater stability and success in South Africa’s top-flight football.
