Newly-appointed manager Luc Eymael has thanked Free State Stars for putting their faith in his management and hopes to repay the club with a top-eight finish.

Succeeding Sammy Troughton in the position as head coach at an early stage of the season comes with its pressures, but the former Polokwane City mentor is ready to lead Ea Lla Koto in the right direction.

“It will take time, hard work and a lot of commitment, and I want to thank the board for putting the confidence in me in leading their team and I hope I will repay them with good results,” he told the club’s official website.

“I also hope that together with my technical team, management, and the players we will work together to achieve more, and I am adamant that we will achieve our goal at the end of the season.”

In reference to the ambitious mandate set upon his appointment, the 57-year-old was blunt in response.

“I don’t want to put pressure on myself, but I will do my best to put the team in the top-eight, and I think I can succeed with the players we have – because the coach alone can do nothing.

“I will try and achieve and bring the best results into Free State Stars, as I have done with my previous clubs. I will try my best to help the team to improve.”

Eymael conceded it’s been a pleasure to return to South Africa after a few months out of the game, and his excellent relationship with the club bosses at the Bethlehem-based side made the decision to return to the PSL much easier.

“It’s good to be back in South Africa and I'm happy to have signed with Free State Stars.

“We have a good relationship with the management over the last season, and we had good chats. But obviously, it was not about the contract, but friendship and about soccer in general.”

- ANA