Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Fresh from winning the Mvela Golden League, Free State Stars have started in earnest with preparations for their return to the Castle Premiership.

Ea Lla Koto have lined up trials for aspiring professional soccer players in Klerksdorp and surrounding townships, as well as villages.

Abel Mthimkulu, Stars' administrative manager, said the trials will take place at Khuma Stadium from today to Sunday.

"We are calling on all the players aged between 17 and 26 in the area to attend, they must bring along their soccer playing equipment, food and drinks.

"It won't be possible for us to supply them with soccer boots and training kits because we expect thousands of youngsters to attend.

"They must also bring along their identity documents, we won't accept people who bring along dodgy documents."

The trials - which will be held daily from 9am - will be conducted by coach Gordwin Koko Owua and assistant Themba Sithole.

Meanwhile, Stars' brand manager Rantsi Mokoena said they were searching for an assistant coach as a back-up to Owua and Sithole.

"We are serious about making a huge impact in the Premiership, that is why we are starting with the technical staff.

"We will be making an announcement soon.

As for the players, we are finalising deals with a number of them.

"We had a squad of 25 players, we have already released two strikers in Mashudu Malesa and Nigerian Ladi Gasper."

Mokoena said the players were on holiday and will return to Bethlehem on June 8 for a pre-season camp in Free State. "We have learnt from our past mistakes, which resulted in the team being relegated from the Premiership to the First Division."

Duncan Lechesa, Stars' captain, said: "It was an incredible year for us, we are promising our fans bigger things in the Premiership."