Former Chiefs coach Jeff Butler dies

Butler passed on this morning. The PSL family sends heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Jeff Butler.

Kaizer Chiefs founder and chairperson, Kaizer Motaung, expressed his "devastation" at the news of Butler's death.

“I’m devastated by this news,” said Motaung.

“When I recruited Jeff he was in Cyprus. We brought him to turn around our fortunes at the time, and he did exactly that.”

Butler arrived at Chiefs in 1988, and the following year won the JPS Knockout Cup and also the National Soccer League championship in 1989.

“By the time he completed his coaching stint in 1996, he had recorded many trophies under his name,” remembers Motaung.

“I remember some of the trophies included the BP Top Eight Cup, Ohlssons Challenge and the Charity Spectacular.”

“We kept in touch with his family through his ill health,” revealed Motaung.

“Jeff loved and lived football. I am deeply hurt. It is hard to accept but what do you do when someone has earned his innings?”

“On behalf of my family and the Kaizer Chiefs family I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. The football legend and friend is gone but his history at Chiefs is cast in stone.”

Butler briefly coached Bafana Bafana after South Africa’s readmission to international football in 1992‚ but was fired after issues over falsifying his CV.