Bloemfontein Celtic striker Tshegofatso Mabasa says he will fight for a place in the club’s first team after finishing as the top goalscorer in the MultiChoice Diski Challenge this season.

The 20-year-old striker finished as the top goalscorer in the 2016/2017 MultiChoice Diski Challenge with 12 goals, while also making four senior appearances for Phunya Sele Sele.

Mabasa says he had mixed emotions about winning the individual award, after his side finished second with 30 points in the overall standing in the MDC table, trailing Mamelodi Sundowns by four points.

‘Mixed feelings, because I am part of the team and failing to win such a prestigious trophy made me numb, but that does not mean I never celebrated my individual achievement, though,’ Mabasa told the Bloemfontein Celtic website.

‘I was ecstatic, but again disappointed that I never reached my initial target of 15 goals. A collective accomplishment is more important than an individual success, winning the league would have been exceptional.’

The Celtic striker says he plans to work his way back into the Phunya Sele Sele senior team and also try and make the South African national U23 squad.

‘Firstly I must fight for selection back into the senior team and subsequent to that work hard to gain selection for the under-23 national team. One has to rise and show the experience gained after playing in the competitive MultiChoice league,’ he added.

Bloemfontein Celtic will next take on Buya Msuthu in the Nedbank Cup round of 32 on Saturday.

The match at the Moruleng Stadium kicks off at 15:00.

Image: Frikkie Kapp /BackpagePix