Bloemfontein Celtic F.C.

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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

Premier Soccer League record

Chairmen

Coaches

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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.
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