Kinnah’s hunt for Kanyenda flops

Flames veteran forward Esau Kanyenda might be heading towards the twilight of his career, but he is still attracting offers from top clubs in South Africa, including Kinnah Phiri’s Free State Stars.

Stars and another Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Mpumalanga Black Aces are reported to have made advances on the 33-year-old forward, but his club Polokwane City, turned them down.

Free State Stars are said to have contacted Kanyenda through Kinnah to strengthen their side after surviving relegation by the skin of their teeth last season.

Kanyenda confirmed having been contacted by Kinnah, saying the former Flames mentor thought he was now a free agent.

“He phoned me on behalf of his club to see if I could sign for them, apparently they thought my contract had expired, but I informed them that I still had another year left,” said Kanyenda.

However, Kinnah could not be reached for comment on the issue yesterday.

On the other hand, Aces also made an offer to Polokwane for the veteran striker who despite being doged by injuries, finished as the club’s joint top scorer with six goals, four short of PSL’s Golden Boot Award winner Bernard Parker.

However, Polokwane City coach Bobbie Solomons told Soccer Laduma in South Africa that Kanyenda will stay put at the club.

“He is still our player and he is staying with us. There is nothing to discuss with him, we are very much confident that he will stay,” Solomons was quoted as saying.

Like old vintage wine, Kanyenda kept on getting better with age in the past two seasons.

Polokwane survived relegation in the play-offs when they came out tops. They finished the PSL second from the bottom.