Free State Stars F.C.

**Home colours**

**Away colours**

**Third colours**

 File:Newfsstars.jpeg
 File:FreeStateStars old.png
**Free State Stars** is a South African football club based in Bethlehem, Free State that plays in the Premier Soccer League.

## 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 managed to regain 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 managed to win the inaugural Baymed Cup in December 2006 beating FC AK in the final.

## Shirt sponsor & kit manufacturer

* Shirt sponsor:
* Kit manufacturer: Joma

## Honours

* **Baymed Cup:**

Winners – 2006
* **Mvela Golden League:**

Champions – 2004–05, 2006–07
* **Second Division:**

Champions – 1985
* **Coca-Cola Cup:**

Winners – 1994
## Club records

* Most appearances: File:Flag of South Africa.svg Edward Salomane 299
* Most goals: File:Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Bunene Ngaduane 79
* Most capped player: File:Flag of Zambia.svg Kennedy Mweene
* Most appearances in a season: File:Flag of South Africa.svg Themba Sithole 45 (1992)
* Most goals in a season: File:Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg 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

* 2013/2014 – 14th
* 2012/2013 – 7th
* 2011/2012 – 6th
* 2010/2011 – 9th
* 2009/2010 – 13th
* 2008/2009 – 4th
* 2007/2008 – 5th
* 2005/2006 – 16th (relegated)
* 2001/2002 – 11th (disbanded)
* 2000/2001 – 6th
* 1999/2000 – 15th
* 1998/1999 – 6th
* 1997/1998 – 9th
* 1996/1997 – 13th

## Club officials/Technical team

* Chairman: File:Flag of South Africa.svg **Mike Mokoena**
* General manager: File:Flag of South Africa.svg **Rantsi Mokoena**
* Football manager: File:Flag of South Africa.svg **Kootso Mokoena**
* Team manager: File:Flag of South Africa.svg **Motuba Mokoena**
* Coach: File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg **Luc Eymael**
* Assistant coach: File:Flag of South Africa.svg **Themba Sithole**
* Goalkeeper coach: File:Flag of South Africa.svg **Walter Kumalo**
* Youth development coach: File:Flag of South Africa.svg **David Vilakazi**

## First team squad

*As of 2 August 2016.*

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

### Foreigners

In the South African PSL, only five non-South African nationals can be registered. Foreign players who have acquired permanent residency can be registered as locals. Namibians born before 1990 can be registered as South Africans.

* Template:Country data GAB Allen Dorian Nono
* Template:Country data GHA Mohammed Anas
* Template:Country data CIV Badra Ali Sangaré

Permanent residency
## Notable former coaches

* File:Flag of Zambia.svg Clive Hachilensa (2005–07)
* Template:Country data MWI Kinnah Phiri (1 July 2007 – 8 May 2008)
* Template:Country data GHA David Duncan (1 July 2008 – 18 Aug 2008)
* File:Flag of South Africa.svg Owen Da Gama (19 Aug 2008 – 7 Oct 2008)
* File:Flag of South Africa.svg Themba Sithole (14 Oct 2008 – 17 Nov 2008)
* File:Flag of South Africa.svg Steve Komphela (18 Nov 2008 – 30 June 2009)
* File:Flag of South Africa.svg Themba Sithole *(interim)* (1 July 2009 – 14 Sept 2009)
* File:Flag of Brazil.svg Valinhos (15 Sept 2009 – 3 Oct 2009)
* File:Flag of South Africa.svg Themba Sithole (4 Oct 2009 – 15 Nov 2009)

* File:Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Sunday Chidzambwa (5 May 2010 – 19 Sept 2010)
* File:Flag of South Africa.svg Steve Komphela (20 Oct 2010 – 1 Dec 2013)
* File:Flag of South Africa.svg Themba Sithole *(interim)* (1 Dec 2013 – 14 March 2014)
* Template:Country data MWI Kinnah Phiri (15 March 2014 – 30 June 2014)
* Template:Country data BEL Tom Saintfiet (2 July 2014 – 6 Nov 2014)
* Template:Country data MWI Kinnah Phiri (7 Nov 2014–Aug 2015)
* Template:Country data GER Ernst Middendorp (Sept 2015–Dec 2015)
* File:Flag of Italy.svg Giovanni Solinas (Dec 2015–23 May 2016)
* Template:Country data FRA Denis Lavagne (22 June 2016–22 September 2016)

## External links

* Official website
* Premier Soccer League
* PSL Club Info
* South African Football Association
* Confederation of African Football

Template:Premier Soccer League teamlist