Bloemfontein Celtic secure Harris Tchilimbou with new contract kickoff.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kickoff.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
DStv Premiership match report Orlando Pirates v Bloemfontein Celtic 02 kickoff.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kickoff.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
On Wednesday, despite Celtic coach John Maduka not on the bench, he opted to rest key players just like he did in the preliminary round home and away fixtures against Maniema Union.
Captain Ndumiso Mabena did not even make the bench together with Siphelele Luthuli, Menzi Masuku and forward Victor Letsoalo.
Sipho Chaine started in goal ahead of veteran goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane while Congolese forward Harris Tchilimbou was handed the captain’s armband.
While Celtic had played three matches since eliminating their Nigerian opponents, they have been inactive since eliminating Futuro Kings from Equatorial Guinea in the preliminary stage.
After a goalless first half, Celtic responded with a double change by introducing attackers Sera Motebang and Reagan van der Ross for Menzi Ndwandwe and Ishmael Njoti respectively, in the 69th minute.
Orlando Pirates and Bloemfontein Celtic clash in the final of the MTN8 on Saturday evening, with both desperate to earn some silverware.
Pirates are in their sixth year of a trophy drought, having last lifted a cup in 2014 when they vanquished Bidvest Wits in the Nedbank Cup.
“It has to be a motivation for us. Having said that, after six years the team hasn’t won any trophy. Looking at how we’ve performed throughout the tournament, [we have to] make sure that we break that cycle and make sure that each and every player who hasn’t won a cup at Orlando Pirates writes their history in the club’s books,” Pirates defender, Thulani Hlatshwayo said this week.