A stoppage time strike from Bloemfontein Celtic’s striker, Prince Olumo handed the Amakhosi their fourth defeat of the season in front of a packed Vodacom Park on Wednesday night.

The Glamour Boys did everything right on the night except to find the back of the net as they missed chance after chance. The defeat left Chiefs who meet neighbours, Jomo Cosmos this coming Sunday on the 11th spot in the Absa Premiership table.

Both Josta Dladla and Abia Nale had made a return from injury but it was Tshepo Bulu, making his first start of the season that made the first impression forcing goalkeeper, Patrick Tignyemb to pull a fine save within the first ten minutes of the game. The Soweto born striker found space to unleash a rocket from 30 yards out but found goalkeeper equal to the task.

Chiefs who had an impressive record over Celtic having won 32 games out of 52 the two sides had played since 1985 were looking at continuing their dominance against the rejuvenated Celtic side and they made their intentions clear with Nkosinathi Nhleko and Jimmy Jambo’s strikes going just wide.

Arthur Bartman who had managed to keep a clean sheet in the previous outing was forced to use his leg saving Patrick Molokase’s strike after the hosts had caught the visitors on the break. Chiefs looked the more enterprising of the two sides and looked dangerous every time they were forward.

Dladla given a free role just behind striker, Nhleko showed no signs of rustiness following his three weeks lay off and was behind Amakhosi’s dominance in the midfield.

The Glamour Boys firing from all cylinders came twice on two occasions, first motivated Reneilwe Letsholonyane’s deflected shot went just wide of Patrick Tignyemb’s goal then Thabang Rooi’s header came off the woodwork as the first half ended goalless.

The hosts started the stronger of the two sides in the second stanza with Ditheko Mototo’s deflected strike going over the bar and from a resultant corner; Thabo Ntethe’s header went wide.

Then Letsholonyane came close twice grabbing his first goal of the season, first he forced Tignyemb to tip over the bar and watched his strike going agonisingly wide after brilliantly set up by Dladla. The inform midfielder who pulled strings for Bafana Bafana in the win against Madagascar will be disappointed not having put that one away with only a goalkeeper to beat.

The Glamour Boys playing their best football this season should have taken the lead when Letsholonyane set up for Dladla but his shot was parried by Tignyemb and Bulu’s follow up shot went just over the bar.

Celtic who had had their backs against the wall for the better part of the game had a last laugh as striker; Prince Olumo tapped in a cross to send Celtic faithful to frenzy.

Vladimir Vermezovic was visibly disappointed with the result but would be encouraged by the gallant fight his charges put on the night.

Chiefs: Bartman, Mmbooi, Jambo, Sweswe, Rooi, Nengomasha, Bulu (Musona 89), Nhleko, Letsholonyane (Mathebula 74), Zwane, Dladla, Nale (Tshabalala 67)

Substitutes not used: Metsimetsi, Motaung Jr., Torrealba, Isaacs

Technical Team

Vladimir Vermezovic (Head Coach)


Donald Khuse (Assistant Coach)


Rainer Dinkelacker (Goalkeeper Coach)


David Milner (Team Physio)

Celtic: Tignyemb, Sambu, Mokhethi, Khaile, Motlaping, Nthethe, Olumu, Mototo, Ndlovu (Smith 60), Oerson (Mayambela 56), Molakase (Walaza 77)

Substitutes not used: Mbatha, Kanono, Goldstone, Siwahla

Technical Team


Owen Da Gama (Head Coach)


Clinton Larsen (Assistant Coach)


Andre Bronkhorst (Goalkeeper Coach)


Johannes Greyling (Physiotherapist)


Thabiso Moshane (Assistant Physio)

Match Officials


Buyile Gqubule (Referee)


Yugesh Anjith (1st Assistant)


Shaheen Salot (2nd Assistant)


Stephen Moshotle (4th Official)


Ian McLeod (Match Commissioner)