Bloem Celtic and Maritzburg United played out to a 0-0 stalemate at the Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium, with both coaches returning to their former clubs.
The visitors made their intentions clear from the first whistle when Dillon Sheppard whipped in a dangerous cross in the first minute, but the Celtic defence was on hand to clear the danger through John Arwuah.
Less than a minute later and the hosts had their first attempt at goal in the match; Dhatelo Morena’s shot though was well held by Maritzburg goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters.
Walters was then called into action once more in the 3rd minute of the match, this time the People’s Choice shot-stopper pushed a Vuyani Ntanga shot out for a corner.
Musa Nyatama then tested Walters with a shot in the 15th minute but the keeper was once more up for the challenge and saved the effort comfortably. Celtic’s Lerato Manzini had the next effort at goal with just less than 30 minutes played, but the forwards shot went wide of the Maritzburg goal before Musa Nyatama saw his shot go well wide a minute later.
Maritzburg then had a chance of their own after sustaining pressure from their hosts but Musa Nyatama’s cross was smartly saved by Patrick Tignyemb keeping the game goalless going into the half-time break.
Joel Mogorosi had the first chance of the second-half in the 48th minute but his shot went wide of the right-hand post. Yakubu Mohammed should have grabbed the game’s opener when he got on the end of a Philani Zulu cross but Tignyemb did well to hold on the shot in the 58th minute.
The Team of Choice tested keeper Tignyemb once more in the 71st minute, but Peter Petersen’s cross was well held by the impressive shot-stopper.
Celtic’s Limbikani Mzava had the final shot at goal in the last 10 minutes of the game, but his shot did not test Walters in the Maritzburg goal and both teams had to settle for a draw.
Ernst Middendorp will have to wait a little bit longer before picking up a first win at the helm of Bloemfontein Celtic while Clinton Larsen’s men will be happy with sharing the spoils.
