Celtic set sights on top-four PSL finish

Bloemfontein Celtic might have been eliminated from the Nedbank Cup on Friday, but there were enough encouraging signs to suggest the club can finish fifth in the Premier Soccer League standings this season and aim for better in the future, said coach Clinton Larsen.

"Celtic have finished fifth twice and sixth twice in the last five seasons and it is no longer good enough just to aim for a top-eight place.

"We need to set our sights higher. Many people believe it is not possible to challenge the financial muscle of the big five [Bidvest Wits, Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United] but I think that is where we have to try and finish in future.

"The club have never finished fourth or higher but if we keep playing like this I'm confident we can change that."

Larsen's reference to Celtic's best league performance is true for the PSL era from 1996 onwards but the Bloemfontein club were third in 1985, when Dave Roberts was in charge.

Celtic were the better team on Friday night but lost to an early goal for hosts Ajax Cape Town in their second-round tie at the Athlone Stadium.

The visitors twice hit the woodwork and got behind the Ajax defence on several occasions, but were unable to take advantage of the opportunities.

"We got behind the opponents' defence more than in any game we've played lately but we got let down by the final pass and our final movement in the box. But there are a lot of positives to take from this game."

Elsewhere in the cup, Black Aces beat Jomo Cosmos 1-0, while Vasco hammered Maluti FET College 3-0.