Free State Stars F.C.

Free State Stars F.C.
Full name	Free State Stars Football Club
Nickname(s)	Ea Lla Koto
Founded	1977; 47 years ago (as Makwane Computer Stars)
Ground	Goble Park, Bethlehem
Capacity	20,000
Chairman	Mike Mokoena
Coach	Innocent Mayoyo
League	National First Division
2020–21	5th

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.

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

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

Shirt sponsor:
Kit manufacturer: Lotto

Honours

Nedbank Cup:

Winners – 2018^[4]

Coca-Cola Cup:

Winners – 1994

Baymed Cup:

Winners – 2006

Mvela Golden League:

Champions – 2004–05, 2006–07^[5]

Second Division:

Champions – 1985

Club records

Most appearances: Edward Salomane 299
Most goals: Bunene Ngaduane 79
Most capped player: Kennedy Mweene
Most appearances in a season: Themba Sithole 45 (1992)
Most goals in a season: Bunene Ngaduane 19 (1993)
Record win: 8–1 v Ikapa Sporting (29 March 2008, Nedbank Cup)
Record loss: 1–7 v Arcadia (31 October 1986, NSL), 1–7 v Mamelodi Sundowns (19 April 1998, PSL)

Premier Soccer League record

2018–19 – 16th (relegated)
2017–18 – 6th
2016–17 – 14th
2015–16 – 12th
2014–15 – 9th
2013–14 – 14th
2012–13 – 7th
2011–12 – 6th
2010–11 – 9th
2009–10 – 13th
2008–09 – 4th
2007–08 – 5th
2005–06 – 16th (relegated)
2001–02 – 11th (bought out)
2000–01 – 6th
1999–2000 – 15th
1998–99 – 6th
1997–98 – 9th
1996–97 – 13th

Club officials

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

First team squad

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