Free State Stars F.C.

Full name	Free State Stars Football Club
Nickname(s)	Ea Lla Koto
Founded	1977; 47 years ago (1977) (as Makwane Computer Stars)
Ground	Goble Park, Bethlehem
Capacity	20,000
Chairman	Mike Mokoena
Coach	Innocent Mayoyo[1]
League	National First Division
2020–21	5th
Home colours Away colours Third colours

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

Notable former coaches