Bloemfontein - Free State Stars have announced sweeping changes to their coaching staff, demoting Themba Sithole and elevating his assistant Kinnah Phiri and bringing in Mark Harrison as they continue their battle against relegation.
According to the supersport.com website, Phiri takes over as the head coach after a run of six defeats in nine games for Sithole.
Sithole is now a co-assistant with Harrison, who has bounced back into the PSL just weeks after being sacked by Golden Arrows.
Phiri will take charge of his first match against Wits away on Saturday night, just three months after returning to Stars to act as Sithole’s assistant.
The 53-year-old Harrison will work alongside Sithole to support Phiri, in an effort to boost Ea Lla Koto’s bid to get out of the relegation zone, said Stars’ general manager Rantsi Mokoena.
“Yes I can confirm that we have roped in Mark as co- assistant with Sithole and we have elevated the experienced Phiri as the club head coach,” Mokoena told the club’s official website.
“We as the club we are happy to have roped in Harrison as a coach he will certainly bring the expertise and value in our technical team department and one hopes that the trio together will help us solve the current situation.”
Stars lie precariously placed in the second from bottom slot in the league and have a trick encounter against high flying Wits on Saturday.