Bloemfontein Celtic have often boasted that they are the number one team in terms of support and achievement in the Absa Premiership in the Free State. Trying to knock their fierce rivals off their perch has always been a form of motivation for Free State Stars whenever they take on Bloemfontein Celtic and their fanatical fans.

Igesund, who recently joined Stars from Maritzburg United, will want to get his team on the winning track as quickly as he can: they lost their last league match as they went down by a 1-0 score line at home to Kaizer Chiefs.

Stars keeper Kennedy Mweene believes the arrival of the highly successful and experienced Igesund will breathe new life into Stars, who have won just two of their 15 Absa Premiership fixtures this season so far.

“The team began training with Gordon Igesund earlier in the week. As I was away on international duty I got here a few days afterwards and all the guys were talking excitedly about his appointment. Gordon brings 13 seasons worth of PSL experience to our team and that can only be of benefit to us,” said Mweene.

The Zambian international wants his team to win more games than they did in the opening half of the season. With the arrival of the new coach, Mweene feels that new life has has been breathed into Stars’ campaign.

“We have a big derby match this weekend, both us and Celtic will be hungry to win this match. I do feel that looking at the fact that we have only won two matches in the first round we will be hungrier than them to win on Sunday.”

According to Mweene, unlike elsewhere on the globe the Free State derby is a very jovial occasion, with fans celebrating the derby in the way that it should be.

“The rivalry between us and Celtic is not one fuelled by animosity and hatred; it is a sporting one. The matches between us and them are played in a colourful and carnival-like atmosphere. Both sets of fans embrace the game in the true spirit of fair play. As a player you really want to be part of such a wonderful occasion where the game of football is celebrated in such a fantastic and friendly but competitive way.”

Celtic will be hoping for an improved showing against Stars, particularly in defence, as they were not their usual efficient selves at the back during their last league outing against Pirates that ultimately lead to their demise during that 3-1 loss.

Defender Thabo Nthethe is aiming to do just that against Stars: “It was not so much Pirates who created chances, but rather our mistakes that allowed them to score the three goals that they did,” intoned Nthethe.

Nthethe is confident the mistakes made by Celtic in the Pirates game will not repeated, saying, “We looked at the errors that cost us that match against Pirates. The coach has looked at them as well and we have had two weeks to work on them and it will be a much improved performance from us against Stars. We have prepared really well in order to ensure that we do not repeat those silly mistakes.”

Nthethe always relishes the opportunity to play in the Free State derby and is not shying away from the fact that he has a strong personal motive for wanting to defeat Stars.

“This match is huge for us and our fans as this is a derby game. Last season they defeated us 5-1 and it almost meant that we were relegated. So we have extra motivation to want to defeat them. We are not concerned that we are playing away from home because our fans will turn up wherever we play.

“There is a lot at stake for us here; as I said it is a derby and we do not want to lose to Stars. I heard that they were training hard for this game. We know Stars are a tough team and would expect nothing less than a tough challenge from them. Get ready because this game is going to be a really exciting one.”

Rivalry aside, Nthethe holds the view that it is imperative for Celtic to kick off the second round of fixtures with a win: “We started off the season well and the first 15 matches went almost according to plan. Our goal is to start off with a win this weekend, as it will be a push for us to do well as we begin the second half of the season.”

When the teams met earlier in the season they played out an entertaining and thrilling 2-2 draw. With Celtic still in with a shot at the title and Stars looking to creep well away from the relegation zone, a draw will be far off the minds of both teams and their passionate supporters.