Naivas FC team manager Charles Maina is adamant the club will overcome the recent run of poor performances and secure a place in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) next season.The retailers started the season as the favourites and led the pack for the better part of the first leg but a dip in form in the second phase of the campaign saw them drop from the automatic promotion slots.Since the start of April, the chain-market-powered club has won a match with three encounters ending in defeats while five others ended in stalemates, a performance that has seen them drop to third on the log with 64 points, a point above fourth-placed Nairobi United, who have a game in hand.##NAJAVA_MECA_8139434##Maina, who has been an integral member of the team, speaking to Mozzart Sport, noted that they were working tirelessly towards restoring order at the club and trying to win all their remaining games.He suggested that a lapse in concentration from the players and lack of cutting edge in the final third is what has been costing them valuable points.The club has been struggling to hit the back of the net in recent games while at the same time conceding “cheap” goals that have seen them drop points against Kibera Black Stars, Mulembe United, Mathare United and Mara Sugar.“We are gearing up for the final games of the campaign; we still have a chance and we will try to win all our games and see where we rank at the end of the campaign,” he said.“The second leg has not been good to us, the coaches are doing everything in the training ground and before a match, you feel like everyone is well prepared, but we don’t know what happens on game day, we are conceding cheap goals from individual or defensive errors, which I believe can be avoided.”“Furthermore, we lack a threat in front of the goal, we are not doing well in the final third, if we can work on that, then it will be easy to win the rest of the games,” he added.Sofapaka defender receives late Harambee Stars call-upMeanwhile, a source at the club who spoke on conditions of anonymity told Mozzart Sport that poor officiating from match officials has also led to their dip in form.The source said that there’s a high possibility of opponents in the promotion race using referees to jeopardize their quest.It is not the first time the club has complained about officiating in the league, with coach Collins Omondi on record in May pouring his frustrations following their 1-1 draw against Vihiga Bullets to centre referee Alex Kenyani.Korea accused the whistler of open bias and lack of professionalism in the game that was staged at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.“He is not fit enough to officiate in interstate football, let alone second-tier matches. One could easily tell that his mind was fixed from the onset. He turned a blind eye to clear fouls and had a total disregard for the rules governing the game. I urge the appointing authority and the federation to seriously look into the issue of officiating as it negates the hard work teams put in training,” fumed Korea.Naivas will have a chance to consolidate their place in the race to the FKF Premier League when they entertain Mully Children Family (MCF) on Saturday.Livid Korea terms Kenyani unfit to officiate Super League matches
