The Free State Stars Chronicle
Squad31 Aug 2026
Thulani Grobler breaks a bone — 96 days out
Brutal, unambiguous and, for all the horror of the moment, usually less career-shaped than the ligament everybody fears more. 96 days, a clean timeline, and a return date somebody can actually plan around.
Player ratings31 Aug 2026
Thulani Manyama scores twice — 8.84
Two goals and a mark of 8.84 to go with them. Strikers are judged on afternoons like this one and remembered for far fewer of them than people imagine.
Market31 Aug 2026
Thulani Mkhize puts it in writing
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Free State Stars, and it is not being withdrawn.
Squad31 Aug 2026
Tempers go at Free State Stars
Bradley Mkhize 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.
Match29 Aug 2026
Free State Stars get the job done against Chippa United
A 2‑1 win over Chippa United, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Player ratings31 Aug 2026
Nobody could get near Luther Mkhize
Successful dribbles: 14. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
In brief
- Squad Morgan Jali dropped after a run of poor form
- Squad Thulani Manyama named player of the week
- Market The Keagan Zwane talk will not go away
- The terraces The stand has a song for Thulani Manyama