MASERU – Mpharane Celtics will be joining Majantja in the Promised Land next season.
Mpharane Celtics thumped Butha-Buthe Fast XI 3-0 away last Saturday to secure their place amongst Lesotho’s big boys when the next Vodacom Premier League season kicks off in September.
It was a case of second time lucky for the Leribe side after their efforts to make it into the premiership were scuppered in the boardroom last time around.
Last season they finished level on points with Maduma but suffered as heart-break after they were pipped on goal difference.
Speaking to the Lesotho Times this week Mpharane Celtics coach Freeze Ntene said his charges had prepared to face any eventuality and convincingly win the Vodacom A-Division Northern Stream this season.
“I told myself that I will go back and fix the team so that we are ready for anything, so that things like goal difference wouldn’t affect us. At the end of the day we scored 43 goals and only conceded six,” Ntene said on Monday.
Mpharane Celtics’ promotion makes them the youngest football franchise to make it into the top-flight. The team is only three years old.
In 2008 internal community disputes following their promotion to the A-Division led them to sell their status to Butha-Buthe Fast XI and remain in the second division.
Celtics were promoted to the A-Division the following year and are now soon to be in the premiership.
On Saturday they won thanks to goals by Janki Mokoetle, captain Moeketsi Mofokeng and Makoanyane XI youngster Lebajoa Mosehlanyane to join southern stream champions Majantja on the road to the Vodacom Premier League.
“Because Fast XI were trying to get into the top four it was a very tough game the attendance was very good. They started very well and they pressurised. Fortunately we scored the goals that were needed,” Ntene said.
