Ng’ambi, Phiri’s stars falter in survival bid

Malawi football exports Robert Ng’ambi and Gerald Phiri Jnr’s Platinum Stars FC is technically out of contention for a South Africa Premier League (PSL) slot following a two-all draw with Black Leopards in the promotion/relegation play-off on Saturday.

Dikwena needed a win to remain in the race for promotion after losing to the Leopards and drawing with Jomo Cosmos in the first round of the three-team play-offs but the latest result means they will need mathematical chance to retain the PSL status.

Currently, Leopards are at the summit of the table with five points from three games while Cosmos and Stars are tied on two points from two and three games, respectively.

To survive relegation, Stars need to beat Cosmos by at least two goals in their last play-offs match away at Vosloorus Stadium next Saturday and keep their fingers crossed to see that Leopards lose to Cosmos by a goal at Thohoyandou this Wednesday.

According to www.kickoff.com, Stars, who played with 10-men for the better part of the second half following a 60th minute red-card to Nyiko Tshabangu, had Phiri Jnr in the first line up on Saturday while Ng’ambi did not get a run.

The website stated that braces from Stars’ Letsie Koapeng and Leopards’ Mwape Musonda were enough for the two sides to share the spoils.