Bloemfontein Celtic F.C.

Last updated

Bloemfontein Celtic
Bloemfontein Celtic FC logo.svg
Full nameBloemfontein Celtic Football Club
Nickname(s)Phunya Sele Sele, Siwelele
Founded1969;55 years ago (1969), as Mangaung United
League ABC Motsepe League

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.

Contents

Bloemfontein Celtic had a large fan base in the Free State before selling their Premiership franchise to Royal AM before the start of the 2021–22 South African Premier Division season. [1] [2] [3]

Its supporters were known as Siwelele.

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

Club records

League record

Premiership

National First Division

Premiership

SAFA Second Division

Former players

Chairmen

Coaches

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moroka Swallows F.C.</span> South African association football club

Moroka Swallows Football Club is a South African professional football club based in Soweto, Johannesburg, in the Gauteng province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mamelodi Sundowns F.C.</span> Association football club in South Africa

Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club is a South African professional football club based in Mamelodi, Pretoria in the Gauteng province that plays in the Premier Soccer League, the first tier of South African football league system. Founded in the 1970s, the team plays its home games in the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bidvest Wits F.C.</span> Football club

Bidvest Wits Football Club, (simply often known as Wits University F.C. or Wits) was a South African professional football club from Johannesburg which played in the Premier Soccer League the first-tier of South African league football system. It was nicknamed "The Clever Boys" or "The Students" because of the close affiliation with the University of the Witwatersrand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durban City F.C. (2024)</span> South African association football club

Durban City are a South African football club based in the city of Durban. Prior to the start of the 2024–25 National First Division, they were called Maritzburg United, and were based in the city of Pietermaritzburg. They play in the National First Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free State Stars F.C.</span> Football club

Free State Stars Football club is a South African professional football club based in Bethlehem, Free State that plays in the National First Division. Formerly known as Makwane Computer Stars, Fairway Stars and Qwa Qwa Stars, their most significant honour is winning the 1994 Coca-Cola Cup and 2018 Nedbank Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National First Division</span> Football league

The National First Division (NFD), officially known as the Motsepe Foundation Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest league of South African football after the South African Premiership. Both the NFD and South African Premiership are organised by the Premier Soccer League.

Jimmy Tau is a South African former soccer player who played as a right-back. He played for Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates and in the South African Premier Division and for Basotho Tigers and Maritzburg City in the National First Division. He also played internationally for South Africa and was a participant at the 2006 African Nations Cup in Egypt.

Lehlohonolo Seema is a Mosotho retired footballer who played as a defender and midfielder. He began his coaching career at Bloemfontein Celtic where he was Assistant Manager in 2013. He went on to manage Black Leopards, Lamontville Golden Arrows, Chippa United and Polokwane City in the South African Premier Soccer League. He is currently the manager of Sekhukhune United in the South African Premier Soccer League where he was appointed on 20 November 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platinum Stars F.C.</span> Football club

Platinum Stars was a South African football club based in Phokeng near Rustenburg, North West Province that played in the Premier Soccer League. The club was nicknamed Dikwena, the Tswana name for Crocodiles.

The 2008–09 Premier Soccer League season was the thirteenth since its establishment. Supersport United were the defending champions, having won their first Premier Soccer League title on the final day of the previous season. The campaign began in August 2008, ended in May 2009. A total of 16 teams contested in the league, 14 of which contested in the 2007–08 season, and two of which were have been promoted from the National First Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008–09 Nedbank Cup</span> Football tournament season

Nedbank Cup is a South African club football (soccer) tournament. The knockout tournament, based on the English FA Cup format, carries a 'David versus Goliath' theme. The competition was sponsored by ABSA until 2007, after which Nedbank took over sponsorship.

Nedbank Cup is a South African club football (soccer) tournament. The knockout tournament, based on the English FA Cup format, was one of a weak opponent facing a stronger one. The competition was sponsored by ABSA until 2007, after which Nedbank took over sponsorship.

Willard Katsande is a retired Zimbabwean professional footballer, a former player of Premier Soccer League club Kaizer Chiefs and the Zimbabwe national team. He also played with DStv Premiership sides Ajax Cape Town and Sekhukhune United.

Nedbank Cup is a South African club football (soccer) tournament. The knockout tournament, based on the English FA Cup format, was one of a weak opponent facing a stronger one. The competition was sponsored by ABSA until 2007, after which Nedbank took over sponsorship.

Leandro Gastón Sirino Rodríguez is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a winger for South African Premier Division club Kaizer Chiefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal AM F.C.</span> Football club

Royal AM is a South African football club based in Pietermaritzburg that plays in the DSTV Premiership.

Lorenzo João Gordinho is a South African professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Cape Town City and the South Africa national team.

The 2019–20 South African Premier Division season was the 24th season of the Premier Soccer League since its establishment in 1996. The season began in August 2019 and concluded in September 2020. Mamelodi Sundowns were the two-time defending champions. This season's winner will qualify for the 2020–21 CAF Champions League along with the second-placed team. The 3rd placed team and Nedbank Cup winners qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup.

The 2020–21 South African Premier Division season was the 25th season of the Premier Soccer League since its establishment in 1996. Mamelodi Sundowns were the three-time defending champions. This season's winner will qualify for the 2021–22 CAF Champions League along with the second placed team. The 3rd placed team and Nedbank Cup winners qualify for the 2021–22 CAF Confederation Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sekhukhune United F.C.</span> Football club

Sekhukhune United F.C. is a South African soccer club from Burgersfort, Sekhukhune District, Limpopo, that plays in the DStv Premiership. Previously playing as African All Stars in the SAFA Second Division, the club was founded under its current name after purchasing the National First Division licence from Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila. In its inaugural season, it won the 2020–21 National First Division, earning promotion to the 2021–22 South African Premier Division. Although the Club is From Burgersfort, it plays its home games at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

References

  1. Sibembe, Yanga (17 August 2021). "SOCCER: Royal AM finally make it into the Premiership after PSL confirms Bloem Celtic purchase". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  2. "OFFICIAL | PSL confirm Bloemfontein Celtic sale, club to be renamed Royal AM". Kick Off. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  3. "PSL confirms sale of Bloemfontein Celtic to Royal AM". FS News Online. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  4. "Celtic co-founder Mathobisa mourned". The Sowetan.
  5. Bloemfontein Celtic FC (2009). "Academy: New academy to improve Celtic football". Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  6. "Max Tshabala Says He Is The New Bloem Celtic Owner". soccerladuma.co.za.