Casric Stars would not have been many people’s favourites for a promotion push at the start of the season, but they have proven their doubters wrong with a strong campaign that could yet see them win a dream ticket to the DStv Premiership.
We take a look at the club and their chances against Maritzburg United and Cape Town Spurs.
SEASON RECORD
League Finish: Third in the Motsepe Foundation Championship
Overall record: P30 W15 D11 L4 GF37 GA25
Home record: P15 W11 D3 L1 GF21 GA9
Away record: P15 W4 D8 L3 GF16 GA16
Most league appearances: Kgomotso Mosadi – 29 (25 starts, 4 subs)
Top scorer in the league: Kgomotso Mosadi – 12 goals
Nedbank Cup finish: Lost 2-1 (away) in the Last 16 to Kaizer Chiefs.
HEAD-TO-HEADS
Record v Cape Town Spurs: P2 W1 D0 L1 GF1 GA2
Record v Maritzburg United: P0 W0 D0 L0 GF0 GA0
PLAYOFF FIXTURES
May 28: v Cape Town Spurs (home)
May 31: v Maritzburg United (away)
June 7: v Cape Town Spurs (away)
June 10: v Maritzburg United (home)
CAMPAIGN SO FAR
Casric Stars finished one point behind Motsepe Foundation Championship winners Polokwane City and will rue having drawn their last three games to miss out on top spot. That has been a bit of a theme for them this season. Only University of Pretoria (13) and All Stars (12) drew more games than Casric Stars (11) this season. It was a particular Achilles heel away from home, where they drew eight of their 15 matches. Turning just one of those into a win would have seen them automatically promoted. That being said, their four losses were easily the least in the second tier this season and they are a hard team to beat.
WHY THEY CAN WIN THE PLAYOFFS
The key will be turning those battling performances that had led to draws into wins and there is no doubt they have the team to do it. They showed in their narrow, and a little unlucky, 2-1 loss to Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup that they can mix it with top sides. They have good, honest workhorses throughout the squad and they may well relish the underdog tag. They also have a tight defence, only Polokwane City conceded fewer goals this campaign. Just don’t expect them to win 4-0, it may be about edging tight 1-0 victories.
THE COACH
The team is coached by Mpumalanga businessman Bucks Mthombeni, who is also the owner of the side. To be fair, he is doing his Caf coaching licenses and is ably assisted by veteran former Free State Stars midfielder Paulus Masehe and ex-Bloemfontein Celtic defender Thabo Nthethe. There is lots of top-flight experience right there. Will they have the answers when the going gets tough? We will have to see …
KEY PLAYER
Playmaker Kgomotso Mosadi has had easily the best season of his career, scoring 18 goals in all competitions, including 12 in the league. You get the sense he is the key figure in terms of both scoring and creating goals and carries a lot of that attacking burden on his shoulders. Only one other player, Thabang Rakwena (6), has scored more than three league goals for the team this term. Mosadi was previously with Mbombela United but made his name in the last few seasons with Pretoria Callies.
DID YOU KNOW?
Casric Stars are new to the second tier this season, having purchased the status of Free State Stars at the end of the last campaign. They play their home games at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in the Mpumalanga town of KwaMhlanga, about 130km from Johannesburg.