Soccer
Derby loss leaves Tshabalala fuming─── 09:28 Thu, 07 May 2015
Bloemfontein Celtic’s dreams of finishing in the top four of the Premier Soccer League was left in tatters last night after rivals Free State Stars claimed a rare double.
The side from QwaQwa beat Phunya Sele Sele 1-0 at the Free State Stadium last night with the defeat meaning they cannot haul in Wits who nine points clear of them.
Ea Lla Koto striker Moeketsi Sekola's 35th minute effort proved to be the difference the two sides ,when he got on the end of Thabo Moloi’s pass to beat goalkeeper Bongani Mpandle with a right-footed finish for his 13th of the of the League.
The winner saw them beat Celtic twice in a season for the first time in a very long time.
Sekola's goal saw the PSL Golden Boot race become a two horse race between himself and Phunya Sele Sele's Lemola on 13 goals a piece.
Celtic also sunk back to sixth in the standings with Ajax Cape Town moving into fifth after a late win against relegation bound Moroka Swallows.
The best Celtic can hope for is a top five finish, and for this they need to beat the Dube Birds in Dobsonville on Saturday, while the Urban Warriors have to lose to Orlando Pirates.
The loss last night left club chairman Max Tshabalala fuming, at the took to the social media platform Facebook and the club website apologising to the Siwelele faithful and threatened to cancel the clubs players awards should they lose to Swallows in Soweto.
“The sponsors have enthusiastically invested in the team and loosing cheaply compromises what they stand for. Celebrating mediocrity symbolises an institution prepared to parish and that is not what Celtic stands for.
"Awarding players that are constantly under performing contradicts the vision we have as a brand," said Tshabalala.
In last night’s other matches, Wits stunned champions Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 while AmaZulu shocked AmaTuks with a 2-1 win Pretoria.
Mamelodi Sundowns claimed the bragging rights in the Pretoria derby with a 2-1 win over SuperSport United.
Platinum Stars thumped Polokwane City 3-1 and the Blacks Aces vs Chippa United and Martizburg vs Buccaneers games both ended in 1-1 draws.
Morgan Piek / OFM News
