Free State Stars F.C.
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| Full name | Free State Stars Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Ea Lla Koto | |||
| Founded | 1977, as Makwane Computer Stars | |||
| Ground | Goble Park, Bethlehem | |||
| Capacity | 20,000 | |||
| Chairman | Mike Mokoena | |||
| Coach | Themba Sithole | |||
| League | National First Division | |||
| 2018-19 | ABSA Premiership, 16th (relegated) | |||
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Free State Stars is a South African football club based in Bethlehem, Free State that plays in the National First Division. Formerly known as Makwane Computer Stars and Qwa Qwa Stars, their most significant honour is winning the 1994 Coca-Cola Cup and 2018 Nedbank Cup.
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 2007–08 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
- Winners – 2018
- Winners – 1994
- Winners – 2006
- Champions – 2004–05, 2006–07
- 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 (29/3/08, Nedbank Cup)
- Record loss: 1–7 v Arcadia (31/10/86, NSL), 1–7 v Mamelodi Sundowns (19/4/98, 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
- General manager: Rantsi Mokoena
- Football manager: Kootso Mokoena
First team squad
As of 16 May 2020
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable former coaches
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