De Sa unfazed by uncertainly over Platinum Stars future

Rumours have been flying that Stars owners Royal Bafokeng Nation are to sell Dikwena, but the club issued a strong denial on Monday.

“Platinum Stars take this opportunity to dismiss the fake news that the club has been sold. It’s also fake and unfounded that we will be announcing or be involved in any media briefing regarding the sale. Platinum Stars is not involved in any form of media briefing to announce anything,” said Stars chairman Cliff Ramoroa in a statement.

De Sa took over at Stars on September 8, after Peter Butler was sacked just two games in to his tenure.

“When I came in … I had a meeting with them and they said I might hear rumours that the club is for sale,” said De Sa on Tuesday.

“They said that the club is not for sale, but that if someone wants it they can buy it. Any club is for sale, if the right amount comes in, but until then, they are a long way from that. Every club is for sale, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea have all been sold, nothing changes. Aces were sold and went to Cape Town and when I was at Wits it was sold to Bidvest and everything carried on.

“That is life, it is out of your control, none of the players ever talk about at and from what I hear it is all speculation and talk. How many years have Free State Stars been “for sale” for.”

READ: Are sale reports disrupting Platinum Stars players?

Stars are still looking for their first win in the league this season, though they did pick up their first point in a goalless draw with Chippa United on Saturday.

De Sa says he has had little time to put his methods across since joining the club.

“I think I have been here about eight days and we have played two matches and had about two training sessions,” he said.

“Everything has happened at once, there is no time to settle down, hopefully in the next couple of weeks we will have a bit of a gap.”

In Arrows, meanwhile, Stars face an opponents that has, in contrast to them, got off to an absolute flyer this season.

“We are playing someone (a team) that is on fire,” said the Stars coach.

“I think they have mastered their style of play, they counter very well at high speed and are hurting a lot of sides.”

Stars have a slight injury doubt over midfielder Ennocent Mkhabela, but De Sa said he does expect him to be fit for Wednesday’s match.

READ: Platinum Stars dismiss reports that the club has been sold