Chippa United’s 2018/19 Absa Premiership season is off to a losing start after they went down 2-0 at the hands of Bloemfontein Celtic at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Chilli Boys were hoping to get out of the blocks quickly under the tenure of returning coach Dan Malesela, but Phunya Sele Sele ensured otherwise thanks to goals from Tebogo Potsane and Tshegofatso Mabaso.

The teams traded early chances through Lantshene Phalane (for Celtic) and Kurt Lentjies (Chippa), though neither troubled the respective goalkeepers Patrick Tignyemb and Daniel Akpeyi.

The Chilli Boys enjoyed most of the possession through the first half, though they did suffer a blow in midfield when they were forced to replace Boikanyo Komane with Thamsanqa Sangweni 10 minutes before the interval.

Against the run of play, Phunya Sele Sele opened the scoring in the 41st minute. Tebogo Potsane scored a superb goal on debut for the Bloemfontein side and ensured they held a 1-0 lead heading into the half-time break.

Chippa looked to hit back early in the second stanza as Jabulani Shongwe lined-up a long-range shot but failed to hit the target, while Celtic’s Ronald Pfumbidzai was guilty of the same thing in the 50th minute.

But six minutes later Celtic’s Tshegofatso Mabaso had his shooting boots on as he converted a penalty to make it 2-0 to the hosts. The spot kick had been won by Mabaso himself, drawing a clumsy foul from Thabo Nthethe.

Chippa responded by sending on the likes of Daine Klate and Xolani Maholo, but it was Celtic who looked the likelier scorers for a spell and Ndumiso Mabena sent a shot wide of the mark in the 74th minute as they looked to end the game as a contest.

Both Celtic and Chippa will be in league action again on Wednesday: the former is away to Golden Arrows in Durban, while the latter welcome Orlando Pirates to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Bloemfontein Celtic (1) 2 (Potsane 41’, Mabaso 56’ pen)
Chippa United 0

Celtic: Tignyemb, Rikhotso (Sam 73’), Ndengane, Gordino, Pfumbidzai, Potsane (Masuku 68’), Phalane, Mashikinya, Dlamini, Mabena, Mabaso (Letsoalo 60’)

Chippa: Akpeyi, Tlolane, Nthethe, Nsabiyumva, Makobela, Mbokoma (Klate 60’), Komane (Sangweni 36’), Mbenyane, Shongwe (Maholo 61’), Mayambela, Lentjies

Bloemfontein Celtic and Chippa United will both look for a winning start to the new Absa Premiership season when they meet at Dr Molemela Stadium on Sunday, 5 August 2018, kick-off at 15h00.

Celtic came home in 11th place on last season’s league table, claiming 37 points from their 30 matches. They have appointed a new coach in Steve Komphela, who will be looking to put his difficult spell at Kaizer Chiefs behind him and take the Bloemfontein side to a new level.

Phunya Sele Sele’s home form saw them pick up 24 points from 15 matches, as they recorded six wins, six draws and three defeats as hosts through the 2017/18 season.

Celtic’s work in the transfer market has included the signing of Ryan De Jongh, while players such as Mpho Maruping, Atusaye Nyondo and Deon Hotto have left the club.

Chippa finished last season’s Absa Premiership in 10th place, though they were just a point shy of the top half after claiming 37 points from 30 matches. Dan Malesela has been restored to the head coaching position and will be aiming for a strong campaign.

The Chilli Boys’ away form saw them pick up 17 points from 15 matches, as they recorded three wins, eight draws and four defeats as visitors through the 2017/18 season.

Chippa’s work in the transfer market has included the signings of Thabo Matlaba, Bernard Morrison, Jabulani Shongwe and Daine Klate, while they have lost players such as Paseka Mako, Buyani Sali, Abel Mabaso and Linda Mntambo.

In head-to-head stats, Chippa and Celtic have met in 10 league matches since 2012/13. Phunya Sele Sele have claimed four wins compared to three for the Chilli Boys, while three matches have been drawn. The Bloemfontein side has won three of their five home matches in the rivalry and suffered one defeat in the process.

Last season the teams cancelled each other out, playing to goalless draws in both Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein. In fact, three of the last four matches between Phunya Sele Sele and the Chilli Boys have ended 0-0.