Bloem Celtic record first win of the season

A 54th minute strike by Ndumiso Mabena decided the somewhat uneventful game, following a cross by teammate Tebogo Potsane.

The visitors attempted to equalise in the second half but goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane stood in their way with some excellent saves. 

“The first win of the season means a lot to us as you saw us hugging each other,” said man of the match Victor Letsoalo. 

Celtic coach John Maduka believes that his team should already have been out of sight in the first half.

“A very good game, first half we started very well, and you could see the chances we have created, and I think we could have finished the game in the first half. They were so many positive starts that we did and that was Celtic playing tonight.”

Maduka believes the team’s finishing still needs a lot of work.  

“We can create a lot of chances and it is something that we have to work on which is to finish. You could only win games if you score goals, so the one thing is to create chances going forward and so we just make sure we put the inside the net.”

Coach Dylan Kerr, who returned to Black Leopards after being fired by Baroka FC earlier this month, said his side allowed Celtic too much possession.

“I thought we did okay, and I thought we started right and was looking forward to it. We said before the game and kick-off that we shouldn’t give away possession, especially against Bloemfontein Celtic that plays quick on the counter.

“We gave possession for the goals and gave possession in the final third, we got outsold in the midfield and it was a problem in the first half, and that’s why I made the substitution. You learn from it and we can take something from this game that we didn’t give out and keep going. We were playing against a counter attacking team.”

Leopards are 15th of the log and will face a struggling Kaizer Chiefs next week Tuesday.

Celtic will travel to Congo this Sunday to face AS Maniema Union in the 1st leg of a CAF Confederations Cup tie.