Free State Stars F.C.

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Free State Stars Football club is a South African professional football club based in Bethlehem, Free State that plays in the National First Division. Formerly known as Makwane Computer Stars, Fairway Stars[2] and Qwa Qwa Stars, their most significant honour is winning the 1994 Coca-Cola Cup and 2018 Nedbank Cup.

Free State Stars F.C.
Full nameFree State Stars Football Club
Nickname(s)Ea Lla Koto
Founded1977; 47 years ago (1977) (as Makwane Computer Stars)
GroundGoble Park, Bethlehem
Capacity20,000
ChairmanMike Mokoena
CoachInnocent Mayoyo[1]
LeagueNational First Division
2020–215th
Former club crest
Former club crest

The club sold their National First Division status to Casric F.C. at the start of the 2022–23 season. Following the sale of Bloemfontein Celtic the previous year, this left the Free State without any representatives in professional football.[3]

History

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Founded in 1977 in a small village of Makwane in an area then known as QwaQwa, the club gained promotion to the National Premier Soccer League in 1986.

The team won the league cup (then known as The Coca-Cola Cup) in 1994 with Bunene Ngaduane leading the scoring charts.

To avoid fixture congestion the club's franchise was sold to the Premier Soccer League in 2002.

The following year, Mike Mokoena revived the club as he bought and renamed the franchise of National First Division side Maholosiane. FS Stars regained their Premiership status in 2005 after winning the Mvela Golden League.

After a disappointing season in the top-flight, with the first team finishing bottom of the table, the club was relegated. The 2006–07 season however proved to be a huge success with Stars dominating the First Division and securing promotion to the Premier League once again.

They also won the inaugural Baymed Cup in December 2006 beating FC AK in the final.

Shirt sponsor & kit manufacturer

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  • Shirt sponsor:
  • Kit manufacturer: Lotto

Honours

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Winners – 2018[4]
Winners – 1994
Winners – 2006
Champions – 2004–05, 2006–07[5]
  • Second Division:
Champions – 1985

Club records

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Premier Soccer League record

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Club officials

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  • Chairman:   Mike Mokoena Deceased 17 June 2020
  • General manager:   Rantsi Mokoena
  • Football manager:   Kootso Mokoena

First team squad

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Updated 16 May 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   CMR Boniface Zoa
2 DF   RSA Sithembiso Ngobe
3 DF   RSA Themba Mantshiyane
4 DF   RSA Katlego Mkhabela
5 MF   RSA Paulos Masehe (captain)
6 DF   RSA Sibusiso Sikhosana
7 FW   RSA Sello Japhta
8 MF   RSA Wandile Ndunakazi
9 FW   RSA Lindokuhle Zondi
11 FW   RSA Booysen Sambok
12 FW   RSA Monnapule Saleng
13 FW   GHA Daniel Gozar
15 MF   RSA Relebogile Mokhuoane
17 MF   RSA Lunga Zikade
18 MF   RSA Tulani Ntshangase
20 DF   RSA Mondli Mbanjwa
21 DF   RSA Lehakoe Naile
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 DF   RSA Sihle Gum
23 FW   RSA Thabang Ximba
24 DF   RSA Langelihle Ndlovu
26 FW   RSA Asanda Dyani
27 FW   RSA Sherwin Smith
28 MF   RSA Buyani Sali
29 FW   NGA Lukman Adefemi
30 DF   ZAM Gift Sakuwaha
31 GK   RSA Johannes Mofokeng
33 FW   RSA Mpho Khabane
41 GK   RSA Samkelo Mbambo
45 FW   RSA Ayanda Nkosi
FW   RSA Sekela Sithole
MF   RSA Siyabonga Dubula
GK   RSA Xolani Ngcobo

Notable former coaches

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References

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  1. ^ "Mayoyo Lands Job With Title Challengers".
  2. ^ "South Africa 1990". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  3. ^ Makhaya, Ernest (4 August 2022). "Free State Stars sold for R12 million, set to relocate - report". The South African. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Free State Stars win Nedbank Cup after slender win over Maritzburg". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Ready to take PSL by storm". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
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