The last round of soccer matches will be played on Saturday and while Wits were crowned the champions last week, there is still a lot to play for this week. For Celtic it’s to avoid being relegated.
Last week’s 1-1 draw to Free State Stars was arguably the most important derby in the history of the two clubs, and a win for either team would have secured their survival in the competition. Perhaps the best result was for the two teams to share the spoils, in order to keep two PSL outfits in the league, however, both sides still have a lot of work to do.
Celtic are on 28 points, but can still be caught by Highlands Park, Chippa United and Baroka FC.
A win for Baroka against Ajax in Cape Town will see them on level points with Celtic if they, in their turn, lose to Maritzburg United.
Celtic should be safe, provided that Baroka beat the Urban Warriors by a minimum of seven goals.
It is, however, a chance that Celtic cannot take and they need to make sure that they secure at least a draw to Rise and Shine in Pietermaritzburg.
Free State Stars are in the same boat, although along with Chippa, are on 27 points and as it turns out, these two teams will be going head to head in Bethlehem in the last round, and it’s must-win game for both teams.
All Saturday’s matches kick off at 15:00.
Meanwhile, the Celtic interim coach, Lehlohonolo Seema, has dismissed talks of the impressive young striker, Kabelo Mahlasela, being linked with a move to Kaizer Chiefs.
It is believed that the marksman is on the Glamour Boys’ radar, however, Seema believes that at this stage of the season there are always rumours. “Not that I know of, the boy is solely focused on the remaining game. Rumours will always be rumours and we cannot stop them, but he is contracted at Celtic and is focused. If he gets his chance he will fight for Celtic and we will see what happens at the end of the season. Players will come and go, I was a player at Celtic and then I was a player somewhere else. Movement will always happen at the end of the season.”
The rumour mill hasn’t really made much mention of Celtic departures or arrivals yet. Seema added that he would like to retain the services of just about all of his players. He did concede that their real problem lies in the striking department and this will be form the large part of their shopping list during the off season.
“I’ll love to have everybody that is here so that we can start building for the future. It goes without saying that the department in which we are struggling is the striking force. We will go into the market forcefully when we shop for strikers.”
Celtic may also be hunting for a new coach during the off season.
This comes after the team’s coach, Luc Eyamel, reported back to duty at Polokwane City.
The Premier Soccer League’s Dispute Resolution Chamber ordered the 57-year-old Belgian coach to return to Limpopo or face a R100 000 fine.
Seema may very well be made Celtic’s head coach as from next season, but only time will tell. – MORGAN PIEK
