Free State Stars have confirmed that Sammy Troughton will take over as the club’s new head coach for the upcoming 2017-18 Absa Premiership season.

The 53-year-old will now succeed Serame Letsoaka as head coach of Ea Lla Koto as they continue the trend of working with local-based coaches.

Ea Lla Koto general manager Rantsi Mokoena claims that Troughton’s achievements at Stellenbosch and AmaTuks have proved to be the deciding factor behind his appointment.

‘The club have decided to appoint Sammy purely because he has been with the club before, he knows the culture of the club,’ Mokoena told the club’s official website.

‘We decided on a local coach rather than to go abroad, as we have learnt our lesson with foreign coaches that we did not do well under them.

‘He has done tremendously with previous clubs he has worked at. While still at Tuks, Tuks was very competitive, they were never relegated under him. He also took Stellenbosch to the play-offs and almost got them promoted to the Premiership.

‘Another factor, he has worked with ‘Sly’ Mosala and I am adamant that they will do well working together,’ he concluded.

Photo: Free State Stars website