Stars host in-form Celtic

Alfred Ndengane of Bloemfontein Celtic and Bonginkosi Ntuli of Platinum Stars during the Absa Premiership match between Bloemfontein Celtic and Platinum Stars on 25 February 2017 at Dr Molemela Stadium, Bloemfontein ©Frikkie Kapp /BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Nov 21, 2017. 05:00

Platinum Stars will chase a second Absa Premiership win when they host an in-form Bloemfontein Celtic at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on 22 November 2017, kick-off at 19h30.

Stars picked up their first outright win in any competition in the 2017/18 season when they defeated Ajax Cape Town 1-0 in Rustenburg on November 1. Veteran Vuyo Mere scored the only goal of the game as Roger de Sa saw his charges claim a three-pointer for the first time in his tenure.

Dikwena have lost three of their five matches at home so far this term, but their last five league matches have brought just one defeat and the North West side will hope that they have turned the corner in their battle to rise off the foot of the log table.

Celtic have won three of their last four league matches, including a 1-0 triumph at home to Maritzburg United in their last outing on October 31. The Bloemfontein side has only scored eight goals in nine league games, but their solid defence - just seven conceded - has helped them pick up a healthy stream of points.

Phunya Sele Sele have performed strongly away from home so far this season, with two wins, two draws and just one defeat from their five matches on the road. However, their last away match was a 2-1 loss at the hands of Ajax Cape Town last month.

In head-to-head stats, Stars and Celtic have met in 26 league matches since 2004/05. Phunya Sele Sele have claimed 10 wins compared to eight for Dikwena, while eight matches have been drawn. The Rustenburg side has won three of their 13 home league matches against their Bloemfontein counterparts, suffering four defeats in the process.

Last season Celtic claimed a 1-0 win in Rustenburg in the first half of the campaign, but the return game in Bloemfontein ended 3-0 in favour of Stars. There have been only two home wins in the last eight league meetings of these teams.

Stars’ line-up from their 1-0 win over Ajax Cape Town on November 1: Visser, Mnguni, Mwedihanga, Zulu, Sithole, Mere, Masalesa (De Jongh 88'), Ng'ambi, Monama (Mwila 46'), Otladisa, Ntuli (Mkhabela 67').

Celtic’s line-up from their 1-0 win over Maritzburg on October 31: Tignyemb, Letlabika (Lubisi 62’), Rikhotso, Pfumbidzai, Ndengane, Baloyi, Phalane, Hotto, Motshegwa (Mahlasela 66’), Mabena, Letsoalo (Nyondo 81’).