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FS Stars: No cause for concern

Johannesburg - Free State Stars coach Steve Komphela believes that although a lack of goals has seen his side slip down the Premiership log, there is no need for concern for the fans and players of the Bethlehem-based outfit.

"I am comfortable with what we have," Komphela said after his side's goalless draw with SuperSport United at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Saturday evening.

"We don't run somebody else's race, we run our own race," he said.

"When they are doing well, we do not check the athlete on the other track.

"We focus on our own race, it's good for them but we don't know how far their luck will go, we just have to concentrate on our business."

The draw sees Stars slip a place down the league standings to third, with 10 points from six matches.

With two wins, four draws and still unbeaten, Komphela said he was happy with the start made by his outfit, but admitted that Stars struggled at times against United.

"It was a difficult match. When we came here we knew that it was not going to be a football match, it was going to be a football fight," he said.

"You could see in the first half, both teams fought very hard, it was very physical, but I think to an extent we coped well."

United looked to have the upper hand in the second period, but failed to capitalise on their chances, while goalkeeper Ronwen Williams kept the Pretoria side in the match with a fine display between the posts, to record a fifth straight league clean-sheet.

Komphela, meanwhile, added that Stars would need to work on their confidence in front of goal, as Stars have only netted six goals in as many encounters.

"We just need to score to be honest. The difference between winning, drawing and losing is just the number of goals you score," he said.

"So we just need to find a way to score the goals, and for you to score the goals, you need players with confidence, courage and people with the natural ability to score.

"Goal-scoring is both technical and mental. Technically, it's about the ability to finish, which is what you can work on at training. Mentally, it's about the courage and the confidence. You cannot teach somebody to be clever."

For United, the point moves them to eight points, sixth on the table and a further eight points behind table-topping Kaizer Chiefs, who extended their unbeaten run with a 2-0 victory over Chippa United at the FNB Stadium.

In Saturday's other results, Platinum Stars secured a much needed 2-1 home win over Amazulu in Rustenburg, while Golden Arrows and Black Leopards drew 0-0 at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi.

The most surprising result of the day, however, saw the University of Pretoria thrash Ajax Cape Town 5-1 in Cape Town, thanks largely to Aubrey Ngoma, who scored four goals for the league new-comers.

AmaTuks' victory saw them shoot up the table into second place with 12 points and join Chiefs and SuperSport United as the only unbeaten teams left in the league.

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