Bloemfontein Celtic Academy players boost HTS Louis Botha in the Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Regional finals

The Motheo regional finals in the under-19 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup competition take place at Bloemfontein’s HTS Louis Botha on Saturday 1st August, with the winner and runner-up going through to the Free State provincial finals happening a week later (8^th August) at the same venue.

A school that is not new to the tournament is HTS Louis Botha, having finished in second position in 2013, and will be back in action again on Saturday.  Coach, Prince Sani said they are happy to have made it this far, but are focussed on the next step – the Free State provincial finals – and, beyond that, the nationals.

“Last year we didn’t even reach this level, so the boys want to prove to themselves that they have grown over the year,” he said. “Most of the players are in grade 12, so winning this tournament will be a good way to exit their final school year.”

The school is now affiliated to Bloemfontein Celtic FC, forming part of the club’s Youth Development Academy. “Now the boys have to work twice as hard because there might be possible signings for the 1st team,” Sani said.

“Already, Teboho Khasipe has signed a 3 year contract with the Celtic 1st team , although he is currently on loan to Roses United FC, and we have Tebogo Qinisile who plays for the SA u17 national side and who has been signed by the club.”

The school has done very well so far this year. There are more schools in the Bloemfontein cluster now, Sani explains, which has meant more games, and they have won all of them.

“We always welcome new schools and look forward to competing and getting our boys used to playing,” he said. “The more games we play the better for us, more games mean more exposure and better preparation.”

There have been no special preparations for the regional finals. They have been working as a team since the cluster games began and have not lost a single match in about 10 to 15 games played so far.

“The boys are proving to me and everyone that they are going to reach and win the national finals,” Sani said. “The first hurdle is the regional finals, but we are not that worried about those games. We have home ground advantage and the crowd will be rooting for us. All we need to do is not disappoint the students that will be supporting us. I can safely say that the boys are mentally and physically prepared.”

Among their opponents at the regional’s will be Grey College, who have done well in this tournament in the past. “We are neighbouring schools and have played against each other many times and I don’t remember them ever beating us,” Sani said.

The most successful school in the tournament’s history – Harmony High – have been knocked out and won’t be at the provincial finals this year, but Sani warns other schools against believing that this gives them a chance to win the title.

“They must think again because we are going to win the regional’s, provincials and nationals,” he said. “I was surprised that Harmony was knocked out so early in the tournament, but I guess it’s great that other schools also get an opportunity to participate in the provincials. We can’t have the same schools qualifying each year, last year we didn’t make it now this year Harmony didn’t make it.

There is another key reason why Sani believes all the players will be performing at their best.  “All the schools are working very hard in making sure that they also get a chance to reach the provincials, they know that the club scouts attend from provincials level and this is their chance to be discovered.”

The teams participating the Motheo regional finals are:

HTS Louis Botha-Bloemfontein Cluster

Grey College-Bloemfontein Cluster

Kgoronyane High School-Thaba Nchu Cluster

Metsimaphodi High School-Naledi Cluster

Unicom High School-Mantsopa Cluster

Absa Premiership Match Press Kits Bloemfontein Celtic v Platinum Stars 6 April

ABSA PREMIERSHIP

2013/14 Season

MATCH PRESS KIT

FROM BACKPAGE PICS

Bloemfontein Celtic v Platinum Stars

Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium

Sunday 06 April 2014

15h00 kick-off

Match background   

-       Bloemfontein Celtic will look to return to winning form in the Absa Premiership when they host Platinum Stars at the Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium on Sunday, 06 April 2014, kick-off at 15h00.

-       Celtic extended their unbeaten run in the league to six matches with a third successive draw: 0-0 at home to AmaZulu.

-       The Bloemfontein club has claimed 18 points from 11 home matches so far this season.

-       Their next three league opponents are Mamelodi Sundowns, Golden Arrows (both away) and Orlando Pirates (home).

-       Phunya Sele Sele are placed ninth on the Absa Premiership log with 33 points from 24 matches.

-       Stars suffered just their second home defeat of the season in midweek, going down 1-0 to Moroka Swallows.

-       The Rustenburg side has claimed 14 points from their 12 away matches so far this season.

-       Their next three league opponents are Bidvest Wits (away), AmaZulu and Golden Arrows (both home).

-       Dikwena are placed sixth on the Absa Premiership log with 35 points from 24 matches.

-       In head-to-head stats, Celtic and Stars have met in 19 league matches since 2004/05.

-       Dikwena have seven wins compared to six for Phunya Sele Sele, while six matches have been drawn.

-       Celtic have won four of their nine home matches against Stars, suffering four defeats in the process.

-       When the teams met earlier this season they played to a goalless stalemate in Rustenburg.

-       Celtic’s line-up from their 0-0 draw with AmaZulu: Zikalala, Macala, Van Heerden, Teyise, Nyadombo, Madondo, Arwuah (Gamildien 79’), Dlamini G, Mthiyane, Dlamini A (Manqana 86’), Ndulula (Nguzana 75’).

-       Stars’ line-up from their 1-0 loss to Swallows: Mpontshane, Mere, Gumede, Sithole, Mpeta, Nyanda (S. Mthembu 46’), Sarr (Msomi 68’), Mathe, Ngele, Hadebe (Makudubela 46’), Mthembu.

                                                                                                                       

Previous meetings   

Last ten league meetings

Season          Result                                                Scorers

2008/09          Celtic 2-0 Stars                     Spandeel, Malokase

2009/10          Stars 1-2 Celtic                     Ramokala; Olomu, Nthethe

2009/10          Celtic 2-5 Stars                     Ndlovu, Olomu; Malongoane, Grobler 2, Sheppard, Botes

2010/11          Celtic 2-1 Stars                     Paulse, Venter; Ramolesa

2010/11          Stars 1-1 Celtic                     Grobler (pen); Kerspuy (pen)

2011/12          Stars 2-1 Celtic                     Ng’ambi, Mathe; Bacela (pen)

2011/12          Celtic 0-1 Stars                     Mkhabela

2012/13          Celtic 2-1 Stars                     Nontshinga, Bacela; Mhlongo

2012/13          Stars 2-0 Celtic                     Botes, Ng’ambi

2013/14          Stars 0-0 Celtic

Head-to-Head

(League only, since 2004/05)

Home                                    

                        P         W        D         L          GF       GA

Celtic              9          4          1          4          11        14

Stars               10        3          5          2          12        10

Away

                        P         W        D         L          GF       GA

Celtic              10        2          5          3          10        12

Stars               9          4          1          4          14        11

Total 

                        P         W        D         L          GF       GA

Celtic              19        6          6          7          21        26

Stars               19        7          6          6          26        21

Fixtures and results

Bloemfontein Celtic

2013/14 Absa Premiership results

No       Date                H/A     Opponent      (HT) Result    Goal scorers

1          04/08/13         H         Sundowns    (0-1) L 1-3      Mogorosi pen 90’

2          28/08/13         A         Polokwane    (1-1) W 3-2    Gamildien 2’, Mutuma 74’, Mogorosi 82’

3          01/09/13         H         FS Stars         (0-1) D 2-2     Nyatama 57’, Mutuma 71’

4          14/09/13         A         U Pretoria      (0-2) L 0-2

5          17/09/13         H         Chiefs                        (0-0) D 0-0

6          25/09/13         A         Aces               (0-1) D 1-1     Manzine 90+4’

7          22/10/13         H         Swallows       (1-1) D 2-2     Manzine 43’, Mhango 90+3’

8          27/10/13         A         SuperSport    (1-0) D 1-1     Nyatama 40’

9          03/11/13         H         Maritzburg     (0-0) D 0-0

10        10/11/13         A         AmaZulu       (0-0) D 1-1     Manzine 68’

11        30/11/13         A         Pirates            (1-0) W 3-2    Ntanga 38’, Nthethe 66’, Nyatama 89’ pen

12        04/12/13         H         Arrows            (3-0) W 3-0    Mhango 4’, Nthethe 23’, Ntanga 32’

13        18/12/13         A         Ajax                (0-0) L 1-2      Ntanga 63’

14        21/12/13         A         Wits                (0-1) L 1-3      Mogorosi 48’

15        01/02/14         A         FS Stars         (1-0) W 2-0    Mhango 34’, Lamola 85’

16        09/02/14         H         U Pretoria      (2-0) W 2-0    Buchanan 28’, Mhango 45+2’

17        12/02/14         A         P Stars           (0-0) D 0-0

18        19/02/14         A         Chiefs                        (0-1) L 0-3

19        02/03/14         H         Aces               (0-0) W 2-0    Lamola 51’ 55’

20        09/03/14         A         Swallows       (0-1) D 1-1     Gabonamong 49’

21        12/03/14         H         Polokwane    (1-1) W 2-1    Mogorosi 21’, Mhango 53’

22        16/03/14         H         SuperSport    (0-1) D 1-1     Mhango 79’

23        19/03/14         A         Maritzburg     (0-0) D 1-1     Mhango 77’

24        30/03/14         H         AmaZulu       (0-0) D 0-0

2013/14 Absa Premiership fixtures

No       Date                H/A     Opponent

25        06/04/14         H         Platinum Stars

26        09/04/14         A         Mamelodi Sundowns

27        16/04/14         A         Golden Arrows

28        21/04/14         H         Orlando Pirates

29        27/04/14         H         Ajax Cape Town

30        10/05/14         H         Bidvest Wits

League position – 9th

                        P         W        D         L          GF       GA      GD      Pts

Home             11        4          6          1          15        9          +6        18

Away              13        3          6          4          15        19        -4         15

Overall           24        7          12        5          30        28        +2        33

Platinum Stars

2013/14 Absa Premiership results

No       Date                H/A     Opponent      (HT) Result    Goal scorers

1          04/08/13         H         Wits                (0-0) D 0-0

2          28/08/13         A         Sundowns    (0-0) D 1-1     Ng’ambi 80’

3          31/08/13         H         Polokwane    (1-0) W 2-1    S. Mthembu 44’, Ng’ambi 54’

4          14/09/13         A         FS Stars         (0-0) D 0-0

5          18/09/13         H         U Pretoria      (1-0) W 1-0    S. Mthembu

6          21/09/13         A         Chiefs                        (1-1) L 1-2      Tshabalala 45’

7          22/10/13         H         Aces               (1-0) D 2-2     Ngele 2’, Botes 68’

8          25/10/13         A         Swallows       (0-0) L 0-2

9          03/11/13         H         SuperSport    (1-0) W 3-0    Botes 35’, Ngele 50’ 65’

10        08/11/13         A         Maritzburg     (1-0) W 2-1    Botes 16’, Tshabalala 90’

11        27/11/13         A         AmaZulu       (0-1) L 0-2

12        30/11/13         A         Arrows            (0-1) W 2-1    Mathe 48’, Ng’ambi 56’

13        16/12/13         H         Pirates            (0-3) L 0-3

14        21/12/13         A         Ajax                (2-0) W 2-0    Mathe 24’, Ng’ambi 30’

15        04/02/14         A         Polokwane    (1-2) D 2-2     Ng’ambi 42’, Tshabalala 85’

16        09/02/14         H         FS Stars         (0-0) W 1-0    Ngele 90+3’

17        12/02/14         H         Celtic              (0-0) D 0-0

18        16/02/14         A         U Pretoria      (0-1) L 0-1

19        07/03/14         A         Aces               (1-1) D 1-1     Nato og 41’

20        12/03/14         H         Chiefs                        (1-0) W 2-0    S. Mthembu 9’, Ng’ambi 59’

21        19/03/14         A         SuperSport    (1-0) D 1-1     S. Mthembu 33’

22        25/03/14         H         Sundowns    (0-1) L 1-3      Ng’ambi 81’

23        29/03/14         H         Maritzburg     (0-0) W 2-1    Nyanda 55’, Makudubela 78’

24        01/03/14         H         Swallows       (0-0) L 0-1

2013/14 Absa Premiership fixtures

No       Date                H/A     Opponent

25        06/04/14         A         Bloemfontein Celtic

26        09/04/14         A         Bidvest Wits

27        16/04/14         H         AmaZulu

28        19/04/14         H         Golden Arrows

29        26/04/14         A         Orlando Pirates

30        10/05/14         H         Ajax Cape Town

League position – 6th

                        P         W        D         L          GF       GA      GD      Pts

Home             12        6          3          3          14        11        +3        21

Away              12        3          5          4          12        14        -2         14

Overall           24        9          8          7          26        25        +1        35

League standings

Pos     Team                                      P         W        D         L          GF       GA      GD      Pts

1          Kaizer Chiefs                                    23        16        4          3          36        14        +22     52

2          Mamelodi Sundowns          24        15        4          5          43        24        +19     49

3          Bidvest Wits                          22        12        5          5          28        17        +11     41

4          Orlando Pirates                    23        11        4          8          24        17        +7        37

5          Mpumalanga Black Aces   24        10        7          7          28        25        +3        37

6          Platinum Stars                      24        9          8          7          26        25        +1        35

7          AmaZulu                               25        9          8          8          24        30        -6         35

8          SuperSport United               23        9          7          7          31        27        +4        34

9          Bloemfontein Celtic             24        7          12        5          30        28        +2        33

10        Moroka Swallows                 24        8          6          10        27        30        -3         30

11        University of Pretoria           24        8          4          12        21        23        -2         28

12        Ajax Cape Town                   24        7          7          10        21        27        -6         28

13        Maritzburg United                24        7          6          11        28        34        -6         27

14        Free State Stars                   23        5          6          12        22        34        -12      21

15        Polokwane City                    24        5          5          14        24        34        -10      20

16        Golden Arrows                     23        4          1          18        17        41        -24      13

Round fixtures

Friday 04 April 2014

20h00 – Moroka Swallows v Ajax Cape Town – Dobsonville Stadium

Saturday 05 April 2014

15h00 – SuperSport United v Orlando Pirates – Lucas Moripe Stadium

15h00 – Mpumalanga Black Aces v Bidvest Wits – Mbombela Stadium

18h00 – University of Pretoria v Polokwane City – Tuks Stadium

18h00 – AmaZulu v Free State Stars – Moses Mabhida Stadium

20h15 – Kaizer Chiefs v Mamelodi Sundowns – FNB Stadium

Sunday 06 April 2014

15h00 – Bloemfontein Celtic v Platinum Stars – Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium

15h00 – Maritzburg United v Golden Arrows – Harry Gwala Stadium

Club information

Bloemfontein Celtic

Nickname: Phunya Sele Sele

Formed: 1969

Major honours: Top Eight Cup titles: 1 (2005); League Cup titles: 1 (2012); National Cup titles: 1 (1985).

All-time PSL record: (Not including 2013/14 season results)

P         W        D         L          GF       GA      GD      Pts

440     151     122     167     496     527     -31      575

Platinum Stars

Nickname: Dikwena

Formed: 1998

Major honours: Top Eight Cup titles: 1 (2013); League Cup titles: 2 (2006, 2013).

All-time PSL record: (Not including 2013/14 season results)

P         W        D         L          GF       GA      GD      Pts

300     102     92        106     342     334     +8        398