No looking back for Phiri after Stars win - coach's relief palpable

A delighted Kinnah Phiri predicted a turnabout in fortunes for Free State Stars after away success at the weekend over Polokwane City marked the club's first victory of the year.

Moeketsi Sekola, with his 11th goal of the season, scored the winning goal of a come-from-behind 3-2 win for Ea Lla Koto, which lifted them to 14th in the Absa Premiership.

"We have a sense of relief with our first win of the year. We've really played well, created a number of chances but have just not been able to score. But I feel this win is a turning point," he said.

"We shouldn't look back again, we must now go forward. It will lift the spirits, the boys are very happy now and I know that they'll be really determined for the match against Ajax."

Stars host the Cape Town team tomorrow in Bethlehem in a match postponed from last week after the death of Richard Henyekane.

"We have picked up confidence and I'm just looking no further than the Ajax game. Saturday's game in Polokwane was a cup final for us, the one against Ajax we should be a bit more relaxed and we can make sure we win properly."

City, meanwhile, will look to maintain their place among the top eight sides. But coach Kosta Papic is not making securing a berth in the MTN8 a priority for his players as he feels they do not need the pressure.

"We told the players the aim was to avoid relegation. That was the only target we had for the season. After we beat Bloemfontein Celtic [3-0 on March 14] we are completely relaxed. It is very difficult to now give new pressure to the players to achieve something else.

"Of course we will try our best to finish in a position to play in the top eight next season. But if we do or not, we can only see at the end of the season."

City face Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday.