Celtic look to derail Chiefs’ title train

Lebogang Manyama of Kaizer Chiefs challenged by Tebogo Potsane of Bloemfontein Celtic

Tuesday Aug 18, 2020. 14:17

Bloemfontein Celtic will look to derail Kaizer Chiefs’ Absa Premiership title bid when the teams meet at Tuks Stadium on Wednesday 19 August 2020, kick-off at 18h00.

Celtic returned to league action with a 1-1 draw away to SuperSport United on August 16, meaning they have won just once in their last seven outings in the Premiership. Phunya Sele Sele have claimed 19 points from 11 home matches thus far in the 2019/20 campaign.

Chiefs broke a two-game winless streak in the league by coming from two goals down to defeat Polokwane City 3-2 away on August 15, with strikes from Willard Katsande, Anthony Akumu and Samir Nurkovic. The Amakhosi have claimed 29 points from 12 away matches this season.

In head-to-head terms, Celtic and Chiefs have met in 64 league matches since 1985, with the Soweto giants claiming 34 wins compared to 11 for their Bloemfontein counterparts, while 19 games have been drawn. Phunya Sele Sele have won just nine of their 31 home league matches in the rivalry, suffering 10 defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, at Moses Mabhida Stadium in December 2019, Chiefs claimed a thrilling 5-3 win, with a hat-trick from Samir Nurkovic and a brace from Leonardo Castro. It was the highest-scoring game thus far in the 2019/20 Absa Premiership.

Celtic’s line-up from their 1-1 draw with SuperSport on August 16: Chaine, Ngobeni, Chabalala, Mahashe, Fikizolo, Lingwati, Baloyi (Mashikinya 90+3′), Phalane (Luthuli 90+3′), Potsane (Maema 63′), Masuku (Letsoalo 62′), Mabena (Sera 83′).

Chiefs’ line-up from their 3-2 win over Polokwane on August 15: Akpeyi, Frosler (Mphahele 46′), Cardoso, Mathoho, Sasman (Parker 46′) Agay, Manyama, Baccus (Katsande 46′), Billiat (Zulu 81′), Kambole, Nurkovic (Sifama 86′).