Bloemfontein Celtic F.C.

Bloemfontein Celtic
Full name	Bloemfontein Celtic Football Club
Nickname(s)	Phunya Sele Sele, Siwelele ;
Founded	1969; 53 years ago, as Mangaung United
Ground	, Bloemfontein
Capacity	5,00
League	ABC Motsepe League
	11th
Home colours	Away colours

Bloemfontein Celtic Football Club (simply known as Celtic) is a South African amateur football club based in Bloemfontein that competes in the ABC Motsepe League, the third tier of the South African football league system. Bloemfontein Celtic has a large fan base in the Free State. Its supporters were known as Siwelele. The team plays its home matches in .

The club sold its franchise to Royal AM before the start of the 2021–22 South African Premier Division season.^[1]^[2]^[3]

History[]

The club was founded by Norman Mathobisa and Victor Mahatane in 1969. They administered the club until the early 1980s when financial challenges forced them to sell the club to Petrus "Whitehead" Molemela.^[4] In November 2001, after the relegation of Phunya Sele Sele, Molemela sold his shares in the club to Demetri "Jimmy" Augousti, a former Celtic player.

After only three years out of the top-flight, the club regained its PSL status with an impressive season in 2003–04 when they were crowned First Division champions. They also managed to win the 2005 SAA Supa 8 and the 2007 Telkom Charity Cup.

In 2009 they formed a partnership with Portuguese club Sporting CP, that included the creation of a youth academy, based in the capital of the Free State.^[5]

Max Tshabalala, who also owns Roses United, took over from Augousti on 21 July 2014.^[6]

Honours[]

Mainstay Cup: 1985
MTN8/SAA Sup 8 Cup
- Winners (1): 2005
- Runners-up: 2020
Telkom Charity Cup: 2007
First Division Inland Stream: 2003–04
Telkom Knockout: 2012
Charity Showdown: 2014
Nedbank Cup
- Runners-up: 2019–2020

Club records[]

Most starts: Willem Vries 306
Most goals: Benjamin Reed 75
Most capped player: Lehlohonolo Seema
Most starts in a season: Jeffrey Lekgetla 39 (1992)
Most goals in a season: Troy Saila 20 (1987)
Record victory: 8–0 vs University of Stellenbosch (26/2/14, Nedbank Cup)
Record defeat: 0–6 vs Kaizer Chiefs (29/3/91, NSL)

Premier Soccer League record[]

1996–97 – 10th
1997–98 – 12th
1998–99 – 7th
1999–00 – 14th
2000–01 – 17th
2004–05 – 8th
2005–06 – 10th
2006–07 – 8th
2007–08 – 11th
2008–09 – 14th
2009–10 – 6th
2010–11 – 5th
2011–12 – 8th
2012–13 – 5th
2013–14 – 6th
2014–15 – 7th
2015–16 – 11th
2016–17 – 12th
2017–18 – 11th
2018–19 – 8th
2019-20 – 8th
2020–21 – 11th

Club officials/technical team[]

Chairman: Max Tshabalala
MD: Rali Ramabodu
CEO: Khumbulani Konco
Team manager: John Maduka
Coach: Lehlohonolo Seema
Goalkeeper coach: Andre Bronkhorst
Head of youth development: Molefi Ntseki
Sports Scientist: Molaoa Pakiso

First team squad[]

Current squad[]

As of 4 April 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	RSA	Gerhard Phafoli
2	DF	RSA
3	DF	RSA
5	DF	RSA	Wandisile Letlabika
7	MF	RSA	Tumelo Mangweni
8	MF	RSA	Lantshene Phalane
9	FW	LES	Sera Motebang
10	FW	RSA	Ndumiso Mabena
11	FW	RSA
12	MF	RSA	Neo Maema
13	MF	RSA	Siphelele Luthuli
14	FW	RSA
15	DF	ZIM	Ronald Pfumbidzai
16	GK	RSA	Jackson Mabokgwane
17	FW	RSA
18	MF	RSA	Given Mashikinya
19	DF	RSA
20	MF	RSA	Ryan De Jongh


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
21	MF	RSA	Victor Letsoalo
22	DF	RSA	Tshepo Rikhotso
23	MF	RSA
24	DF	RSA	Thato Lingwati
25	DF	RSA	Justice Chabalala
26	MF	RSA	Sifiso Ngobeni
27	FW	CGO	Harris Tchilimbou
28	DF	RSA
31	GK	RSA
32	GK	RSA	Mondli Mpoto
33	DF	RSA	Justice Chabalala
34	MF	RSA	Andile Fikizolo
35	MF	RSA	Lucky Baloyi
36	DF	RSA
38	DF	RSA
42	MF	RSA	Jabulani Ncobeni
50	MF	RSA	Menzi Masuku