FORMER Dynamos striker Rodreck Mutuma says he has now settled well at South African Premiership side Bloemfontein Celtic and wants to win the top goal scorer award next season.
Report by Tawanda Tafirenyika
The lanky striker moved to the Super Diski side in the January transfer window but his expected debut for his new team was stalled because of work permit problems. But when he eventually got his papers in order, Mutuma became an integral member of coach Clinton Larsen’s side.
Although he did not score, he contributed immensely to the side.
The towering striker is now back home on an offseason break. He told NewsDay Sport yesterday his target next season was to win the Golden Boot Award — an award he won in 2011 while playing for Dynamos with 14 goals.
It is an achievable target considering that the Absa Premiership top goalscorer last season Katlego Mashego of Moroka Swallows managed just 13 goals, second top goals scorer Bernard Parker of champions Kaizer Chiefs scored 12 and third best Cuthbert Malajila had 11.
Mutuma played a total of nine games, starting six and appearing as a substitute in the other three matches.
“I had a very good season at Bloemfontein Celtic. I was new and everyone at the club from the executive, technical department, players and coaches gave me all the support. They helped me settle at the club. I didn’t score, but I contributed with a lot of assists.
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“The coach had confidence in me and this is why I continued to play even though I did not score. I have now settled and now want to push hard to be the top goal scorer next season.
“With the support I am getting at the club I am confident of achieving my goal,” said Mutuma.
Larsen is an admirer of the Zimbabwean international and describes him as a composed striker in the penalty box which he says has been lacking in the team.
“He brings an extra dimension to the team. He’s a box player and very decisive, very composed in the box,” explained the Celtic coach.
Mutuma was a key member of Dynamos before joining the great trek to South Africa at the end of the January transfer window.
He won the Golden Boot award in the 2011 season with his 14 goals, helping Dynamos win the league title, ending four years of waiting for the coveted trophy.
Dynamos had perfected the art of being the Premiership bridesmaids since winning the league title in 2007 as they were beaten to the trophy at the conclusion of the league title.
At Celtic, he plays with Botswana international Joel Mogorosi who signed with FC Platinum last year, but did not kick a ball before he was shipped to Celtic. Celtic has a large fan base in the Free State. Siwelele, as Celtic’s supporters are known, are arguably the most passionate in South Africa.
In 2009, they formed a partnership with Portuguese club Sporting CP, that includes the creation of a Youth Academy based in the capital of the Free State. The most prominent part of the Youth Academy, being the Under-19 team, was established by August 2010 with the name Celtic Colts.
They started out directly to compete at the third level of South African football in the Vodacom League, after buying the franchise status of Hellas.
Celtic Colts are managed by Marco Augousti and coached by David Modise and Zimbabwean George Nechironga.
