Itumeleng Vilakazi

Right Back - Free State Stars
22 Dec 2029
Saturday
Process

Marked for Itumeleng Vilakazi

164 Edition

The Free State Stars Chronicle

17 Sep 2029
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Match

The small margins put Free State Stars out

Out, 2‑4 to Bloemfontein Celtic, and the long argument about which of the small moments decided it. The league is all there is now, and everybody knows it.

Squad

A one-man rearguard from Kermit Zwane

There were 8 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.

Player ratings

Bongani Williams scores twice — 8.72

Two goals and a mark of 8.72 to go with them. Strikers are judged on afternoons like this one and remembered for far fewer of them than people imagine.

The dugout

Pedro Fonseca: that is not what I was promised

“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Free State Stars have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.

Match

At last: Free State Stars win one

7 matches without a win, and then this, against Platinum Stars. Relief is a strange noise in a football ground and it was the only noise at the end.

Squad

Tempers go at Free State Stars

Luther Mabunda was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Match

Nobody could stop scoring

6 goals. Both benches spent the second half looking at each other rather than at the pitch. Purists will complain about Free State Stars and Bloemfontein Celtic in equal measure; everybody else had a wonderful time.

Match

Free State Stars see off Platinum Stars

Three points for Free State Stars, 3‑1 the final word against Platinum Stars in a contest settled by the finer margins.

The terraces

One of their own: Bongani Williams

He is 23 and the ground already sings his name, which is a thing that happens to local boys and almost never to signings. Everything from here is measured against an affection he did nothing to earn except be from here.

In brief