Free State Stars F.C.

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Free State Stars F.C.
Fsstarslogo12.png
Full nameFree State Stars Football Club
Nickname(s)Ea Lla Koto
Founded1977;46 years ago (1977) (as Makwane Computer Stars)
Ground Goble Park, Bethlehem
Capacity20,000
ChairmanMike Mokoena
CoachInnocent Mayoyo [1]
League National First Division
2020–21 5th
Former club crest Newfsstars.jpeg
Former club crest
Former club crest FreeStateStars old.png
Former club crest

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 [2] and Qwa Qwa Stars, their most significant honour is winning the 1994 Coca-Cola Cup and 2018 Nedbank Cup.

Contents

The club sold their National First Division status to Casric F.C. at the start of the 2022–23 season. Following the sale of Bloemfontein Celtic the previous year, this left the Free State without any representatives in professional football. [3]

History

Founded in 1977 in a small village of Makwane in an area then known as QwaQwa, the club gained promotion to the National Premier Soccer League in 1986.

The team won the league cup (then known as The Coca-Cola Cup) in 1994 with Bunene Ngaduane leading the scoring charts.

To avoid fixture congestion the club's franchise was sold to the Premier Soccer League in 2002.

The following year, Mike Mokoena revived the club as he bought and renamed the franchise of National First Division side Maholosiane. FS Stars regained their Premiership status in 2005 after winning the Mvela Golden League.

After a disappointing season in the top-flight, with the first team finishing bottom of the table, the club was relegated. The 2006–07 season however proved to be a huge success with Stars dominating the First Division and securing promotion to the Premier League once again.

They also won the inaugural Baymed Cup in December 2006 beating FC AK in the final.

Shirt sponsor & kit manufacturer

Honours

Winners – 2018 [4]
Winners – 1994
Winners – 2006
Champions – 2004–05, 2006–07 [5]
Champions – 1985

Club records

Premier Soccer League record

Club officials

First team squad

Updated 16 May 2020

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of Cameroon.svg  CMR Boniface Zoa
2 DF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Sithembiso Ngobe
3 DF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Themba Mantshiyane
4 DF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Katlego Mkhabela
5 MF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Paulos Masehe( captain )
6 DF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Sibusiso Sikhosana
7 FW Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Sello Japhta
8 MF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Wandile Ndunakazi
9 FW Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Lindokuhle Zondi
11 FW Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Booysen Sambok
12 FW Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Monnapule Saleng
13 FW Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Daniel Gozar
15 MF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Relebogile Mokhuoane
17 MF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Lunga Zikade
18 MF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Tulani Ntshangase
20 DF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Mondli Mbanjwa
21 DF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Lehakoe Naile
No.Pos.NationPlayer
22 DF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Sihle Gum
23 FW Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Thabang Ximba
24 DF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Langelihle Ndlovu
26 FW Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Asanda Dyani
27 FW Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Sherwin Smith
28 MF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Buyani Sali
29 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Lukman Adefemi
30 DF Flag of Zambia.svg  ZAM Gift Sakuwaha
31 GK Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Johannes Mofokeng
33 FW Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Mpho Khabane
41 GK Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Samkelo Mbambo
45 FW Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Ayanda Nkosi
FW Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Sekela Sithole
MF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Siyabonga Dubula
GK Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Xolani Ngcobo

Notable former coaches

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References

  1. "Mayoyo Lands Job With Title Challengers".
  2. "South Africa 1990". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  3. Makhaya, Ernest (4 August 2022). "Free State Stars sold for R12 million, set to relocate - report". The South African. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  4. "Free State Stars win Nedbank Cup after slender win over Maritzburg". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  5. "Ready to take PSL by storm". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 25 July 2023.