EVATON.- Sedibeng Ster Sport once again looks back at one of the players who made a name for himself in top-flight football.
Ladies, and gentlemen, meet former Bloemfontein Celtic defender, Xolani Makhoba.
Makhoba was one of the underrated players in PSL but many coaches believed in his potential with his no-nosense approach to the game. He was a workaholic always doing the ‘dirty work’ for his teammates. The man hated to lose and even today he still can’t accept defeat playing for masters’ social football.
Makhoba is still passionate about football and he is still involved in football coaching youngsters in Evaton. His passion saw him establishing a football club called Aston Villa playing under the Emfuleni Local Football Association junior league. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, Makhoba said despite playing for several teams, Celtics will always remain close to his heart.
He told Sedibeng Ster Sport that Celtics was not just a football club, but a movement. Makhoba joined Celtics after he spent three years at Ledwa Power Stars between 1999 – 2003. The club was campaigning in the Mvela First Division League by then.
He was in a group of players who helped the club gain promotion to top-flight football in the 2023/2004 season with Tony De Nobrega and Benjamini Reed being the club’s coaches. Makhoba told Sedibeng Ster Sport that the highlight of his football career was when Celtics won the SUPA8 Cup in the 2004-2005 season.
“I still have fond memories of playing for Bloemfontein Celtics. This was a special team for the Bloemfontein community. I enjoyed my football career there because we had great players who were passionate about this beautiful game. My heart is bleeding because there is no more team call Bloemfontein Celtics in PSL after the club’s status was sold to Royal AM a couple of seasons ago. The club was unique especially the supporters who always painted the streets of Bloemfontein in green and white when Celtics was playing. South African football without Celtics at the top-flight football is no longer the same,” said Makhoba.
He started his amateur football career playing for Happy Stars FC from Zone 3 under Ntate Malefane’s stewardship.
Some of the teams that Makhoba played include Dangerous Darkies, Arconbush United, Tsakane Aces, City Pillares, and Dynamos to mention but a few. Some of the notable coaches that he played under include former SA U/23 National Team Coach, Kenny Ndlazi.
