Stars, Celtic must get their affairs in order

An appalling start to the season does not bode well for the aspirations of both teams this season

I know it is still too early to start panicking about the current positions that Free State Stars and Bloemfontein Celtic find themselves on the premiership log, but I must admit that I am a bit worried about these two teams despite it being the initial phases of the new season.

In a space of one year, both clubs have been gripped by a series of negative occurances. These include supporters’ remonstrations and alleged salary and player bonus disputes at Siwelele Park; as well as failed club sale transactions and the chopping and changing of coaches at Goble Park.

All these, I believe, have contributed immensely to the circumstances both clubs currently find themselves in. Let me start off by putting Siwelele under the critical lens first.

Celtic are rooted right at the bottom of the log in 16th position with a solitary point after three league matches. They have lost two matches already, while drawing one and are yet to register their first win of the season.

One humiliating factor is that Siwelele is even below Mamelodi Sundowns who have hardly gotten their league campaign off the ground yet. Sundowns also have a single point from the one game they have played so far – due to their CAF Champions League commitments – and are therefore 15th on the log.

Celtic are below Sundowns because they have an inferior goal difference – a deficit of two goals to be more specific. To put it quite simply, Celtic is doing worse than a team that has hardly done anything. After losing a handful of key players, I don’t think Celtic have responded adequately to that situation.

Are these new players really fit to fill the shoes left behind of the likes of Gabadinho Mhango and Thapelo Morena? I definitely think not.

I even found it to be quite ironic that Wayde Jooste, whose contract was not renewed at Celtic at the end of last season, put the last nail in the coffin in the loss against Golden Arrows last week.

Stars are also winless five matches into the new season. They have lost three and have drawn two, thus collecting a measly two points. After five matches, Ea Lla Koto are only one point ahead of a team that has done nothing this season (Sundowns).

Meanwhile Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs, who beat the Bethlehem-based side on Wednesday night, is setting the pace up at the summit of the log, with Arrows right on their heels.
PSL rookies Highlands Park and Baroka FC have had fairly good starts to the season given their respective novice statuses and I am sure that all of us can see that both these teams are quite determined to stay in the top flight.

In contrast to both Stars and Celtic, both Highlands and Baroka have shown that they are able to find the back of the net, although they both have the most leaking defences in the league at this stage of the season. I am, nevertheless, confident that Baroka and Highlands will give a good account of themselves in the elite league.

Stars and Celtic are the only two clubs from this province that remain in the National Soccer League (NSL) – which comprises Premier Soccer League (PSL) and National First Division (NFD) clubs – after African Warriors got relegated from the NFD last season.

The thought of Celtic or Stars (or both) getting relegated is unbearable. I know many would insist that this would never happen; in the same manner that Moroka Swallows’ die-hard fans thought their revered team would never sink into the abyss it finds itself in right now.

Anything can happen! And it’s for that reason that I warn Celtic and Stars to get their ducks in a row, because the league race is only going to get tougher, going forward.
Need I remind everyone that Celtic intend to win the league this season?