No Middendorp for Stars yet

Kinnah Phiri has become the first coaching casualty of the new Premier Soccer League season, but Free State Stars have not appointed Ernst Middendorp as his successor - yet.

They are planning to meet with him, though, to discuss his possible taking over as they try to get themselves off the bottom of the league standings.

"That is the situation at the moment," said Stars' general manager Rantsi Mokoena yesterday, dismissing weekend reports Middendorp had been signed as replacement.

"We have not met with Middendorp but we are arranging to talk to him."

For the moment, Themba Sithole has again stepped into the breach as caretaker coach along with Floyd Mogale. The pair had been working under Phiri, who was dismissed during the weekend.

Stars have lost their opening three league games of the season and are the only side among the 16 in the PSL without any points.

They started the season with a 1-0 home defeat to Mpumalanga Black Aces, then lost 4-0 to Kaizer Chiefs, scoring two own goals in the process, and last Wednesday were beaten 2-1 by Ajax Cape Town even after taking an early lead.

Phiri, 60, had been in charge since last November when he took over from Belgian Tom Saintfiet. He had a run of 22 league and cup games in charge, winning six, drawing six and losing 10. Five victories in a row between mid-April and the end of last season saw Stars lift themselves out of the relegation quagmire and come close to a top eight finish.

It was his fourth different spell in charge of Ea Lla Koto.

Middendorp has been unemployed since Chippa United sacked him before the end of last season. The German has since been in a legal dispute with the Port Elizabeth-based club.