Kinnah, Kanyenda in relegation battle
Pressure is piling up on former Flames coach Kinnah Phiri and veteran forward Esau Kanyenda whose teams—Free State Stars and Polokwane City—are in the murky waters of relegation, with just a few games to wrap up the season.
The relegation woes worsened for Kinnah at the weekend when Free State lost 3-2 to Mpumalanga Black Aces and he will now be hoping that his side should win all their three remaining games and that Esau Kanyenda’s Polokwane City should falter to avoid the play-offs.
Free State are second from the bottom with 24 points from 27 games whereas Polokwane City are three points above them, but Stars have a game in hand. Golden Arrows anchor the 16-team log table with 21 points from 28 games.
Stars’ next assignment is against Kaizer Chiefs tomorrow away in Johannesburg. Their last two games will be against Orlando Pirates on May 6 and they will wind up the season with a tricky fixture against Moroka Swallows on May 10.
On the other hand, Polokwane will host Swallows on May 6 and their last league fixture will be against SuperSport United away on May 10.
Kanyenda said they are keeping their fingers crossed to survive the chop.
“The league has reached a very crucial stage where either us or Kinnah’s team will have to play in the play-offs.
“That Free State lost at the weekend, was good for us, now we have to try and win both our remaining games,” said Kanyenda.
