Polokwane City will welcome Bloemfontein Celtic to the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium when they lock horns in the Telkom Knockout semi-final on Sunday.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Rise and Shine and Celtic in the Telkom Knockout competition, or any cup tournament for that matter.
Celtic have enjoyed the better of the league meetings in the past. Of the nine games played, they have won five to City’s two, with two matches drawn. Celtic have outscored their opponents 16-12.
Celtic also have the better of the record in matches played at City. In the five games played, they have won three and lost two. There has never been a draw between the sides in Polokwane. City edge the scoring though, 9-8.
The most recent clash was in the league earlier this season when Celtic won 2-1 on 12 September. Ndumiso Mabena bagged a brace of goals that day for Celtic, either side of a Rodney Ramagalela strike for City.
City are technically still searching for their first victory in the Telkom Knockout, with all four previous seasons ending in first-round exits, while their passage in 2017 was secured via a 0-0 draw with Ajax Cape Town that ended in a penalty shoot-out success, and a 2-2 draw with Orlando Pirates that also required spot kicks.
In all cup matches since the club was formed in 2010 after purchasing the status of Port Elizabeth-based Bay United, Polokwane have played 20 matches, won six, drawn three and lost 11.
Rendani Ndou’s double in the last round against Pirates catapulted him to City’s top-scorer in Telkom Knockout history. He is in fact the only player to have managed two goals in the competition.
City are on a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions. Their club record since promotion to the Absa Premiership is seven, which they could match in this fixture.
Celtic exited the Telkom Knockout competition in the first round in seven of the eight previous seasons, though in the odd one out, 2012, they lifted the trophy, beating Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in the final.
Celtic have been involved in seven penalty shoot-outs in the Telkom Knockout in the PSL era, winning four and losing three. The last was in this year’s first round when they edged SuperSport United 5-4 after a 2-2 draw.
Celtic have won four of their last six matches, with a draw and single defeat. Their only loss was away at Ajax Cape Town on 21 October.
The match at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium kicks off at 15:30.
Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
