Celtic beat Baroka FC 3-0 on Saturday afternoon to book their first final in 2017 when they reached the championship match of the Telkom Knockout Cup.

Phunya Sele Sele looked the better oiled of the two teams during the historic occasion at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

Apart from it being the first semi-final of South Africa’s version of the FA Cup, it was also the first football match contested in the country since the sport went into lockdown in March due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Celtic opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time when the captain, Ndumiso Mabena, drove home the opening goal.

An 83rd-minute penalty by Victor Letsoalo pretty much sealed the deal for the outfit from Bloemfontein. However, in the 90th-minute, Letsoalo completed his brace to add insult to injury for the team from Polokwane.

The clinical performance by John Maduka’s charges was a more than convincing way to advance to the Nedbank Cup final for the first time.

Seven years ago Celtic won the Telkom Knockout Cup, and 14 years ago they won the SAA Super 8 Cup for their first major cup title.

Celtic will face the winner between Mamelodi Sundowns and Wits in the final.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport