Letsoaka has quality and experience - Celtic

Bloemfontein Celtic chairman Max Tshabalala says he could not miss out on an opportunity to bring a coach of Serame Letsoaka's quality and experience to the team.

Celtic announced the appointment of the former junior international coach on a three-year contract yesterday. Letsoaka will be assisted by Duncan Lechesa, who was previously Celtic's MultiChoice Diski Challenge coach.

Lehlohonolo Seema, who was assistant to Letsoaka's predecessor Clinton Larsen, has now been appointed the head of development by Phunya Sele Sele.

Letsoaka signed for Celtic two days after leaving Golden Arrows because working in Durban was putting "a strain on his family life".

Tshabalala said: "We had other coaches that we were looking at. [But] when we found out that a man of Serame's calibre is available we had to make a move. We are happy that we were able to conclude the deal.

"As Celtic we want quality. He has a lot of experience in the game and he has also been a coaching instructor. We need to support him as management and we know the supporters will also support him. He has not been given any mandate yet."

According to Tshabalala, Letsoaka was given an opportunity to make a presentation to management and they were blown away. "He knows our supporters.

"When he made his presentation he spoke about our players like he knows them. We were very impressed. He knows the culture of Celtic because he has been here before as an assistant coach [from 1998 to 2000]."

Letsoaka later said: "My new team has asked me not to make comments to the media so that they can have a credible press conference on Monday."