While the race for the Absa Premiership title continues this weekend, football fans in the Free State are eagerly gearing up for the derby between Bloemfontein Celtic and Free State Stars.

 

Both teams are looking to end the season on a strong note to ensure that they can secure a top eight finish.

 

Celtic are in fifth spot at present, while Stars are eighth, but only three points separate the two rivals. And there are also a couple of teams hovering just outside the top eight that could be ready to pounce should any of the current incumbents slip up.

 

The points on offer are of course vital, but for the players, and even more so the supporters, Saturday’s clash at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein will be very much about pride and bragging rights.

 

And Phunya Sele Sele fans will know that in their captain Thabo Nthethe, they have someone who will be prepared to die out on the field to make sure that they go home happy.

 

The 28-year-old Bloemfontein-born defender is green and white through and through, having spent his entire career with his home-town club after having made his PSL debut back in 2004/ 2005.

 

The Bafana Bafana centre-back is hopeful that his side can add another derby scalp to the current campaign – Celtic have already beaten Stars twice this season.

 

“Stars beat us in the league, but then we went on to beat them twice in cup competitions. So hopefully we can continue where we left off in those games, and get another win on Saturday.

 

“We are in good form now, and we are targeting a top four finish, which we could achieve by winning our last two games,” he told PSL.co.za.

 

Nthethe says that the derby fever is tangible in Bloemfontein, and he understands how much this one means to the fans.

 

“Everyone is talking about the game. Everybody wants to be at the stadium for the match, there is a great vibe around town at the moment.

 

“Its always good walking out in front of our home fans, but for this game there is something extra in the air, you can feel it when you get out onto the pitch,” he explained.

 

The two clubs have played in 43 league derbies since 1986. Ea Lla Koto currently hold the advantage, with 14 wins to Celtic’s 12, while there have been 17 draws.

 

The last 10 league encounters ended as follows:

 

2007/08 Stars 1-0 Celtic Sibisi

 

2008/09 Celtic 1-0 Stars Mensah (og)

 

2008/09 Stars 5-1 Celtic (Makola, Mofokeng, Batabaire (og), Madimabe, Ngcobo; Schalkwyk)

 

2009/10 Celtic 2-2 Stars (Olomu 2; Richartz, Nkhatha)

 

2009/10 Stars 0-1 Celtic (Segolela)

 

2010/11 Stars 0-1 Celtic (Chenene)

 

2010/11 Celtic 1-0 Stars (Mthembu)

 

2011/12 Celtic 1-0 Stars (Spandeel)

 

2011/12 Stars 2-1 Celtic (Wome, Masehe; Bacela)

 

2012/13 Stars 1-0 Celtic (Nomandela)

For more http://www.psl.co.za