BLOEMFONTEIN Celtic coach Clinton Larsen has thrown a lifeline to Siyabonga Nontshinga and said the striker will be given the opportunity to prove himself again at Phunya Sele Sele.

The forward, who has three Bafana Bafana caps to his name, has spent the second half of this season on loan at National First Division promotion hopefuls Mpumalanga Black Aces.

After a slow start with AmaZayoni, the 26-year-old scored six goals in the final 12 matches of the league campaign and is now hoping to help his side through the PSL promotion-relegation play-offs.

"Siyabonga has been away on loan and done quite well," Larsen said. "He will join us again for our pre-season, when we will have another look at him and assess what we want to do going forward."

Celtic's search for a striker who can net them 15 to 20 goals in a season saw them bring in Zimbabwean forward Roderick Mutuma during the last transfer window, but he failed to fire.

In eight appearances in all competitions the striker has yet to find the back of the net. The only other options for Larsen at present are the experienced Lennox Bacela and rising star Lerato Manzini.

Nontshinga joined Celtic at the start of last season from relegated Jomo Cosmos, and made 11 appearances. His only goal came in a 2-1 victory over Platinum Stars in August.

Meanwhile, Larsen has confirmed that midfielder Letladi Madubanya asked to leave the club. Madubanya signed a three-year deal with AmaZulu last month, a surprise move for a player who was integral to the Celtic set-up and was named their player of the season for the 2011-2012 campaign.