Why Celtic did not extend Mogorosi’s contract

Despite being given the errands of leading Bloemfontein Celtic at the beginning of the season, Botswana international Joel Mogorosi has parted ways with the Free State based side, after the club opted against renewing his stay with the team.

 
Mogorosi joined Celtic in 2012 following a fruitful stint with Mochudi Centre Chiefs for an undisclosed fee. The player then since turned into a marquee figure of the Siwelele outfit, proving his worth to the club by scooping the 2012/13 Telkom Knockout Player of the Tournament in his debut season.

 
He immensely helped his side all the way to lifting the cup, and scoring the decisive winner against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Although the fate of seeing Juluka (as Mogorosi is popularly known as in the local football circles)  leaving the Phunya Selesele seemed a thing to be discussed in a few more seasons to come, the player  now joins the ditched list of Bloemfontein Celtic alongside home-bound country man, Mogogi Gabonamong.

 
Information reaching Gazette Sport desks states that Mogorosi’s woes at the club all began after he was given the responsibilities of captaining the team. According a source close to the player, the Zebras winger tried too hard to prove to Ernest Middendorp, who happened to be the man at the helm of Celtic at that moment, that his selection was no fluke.

 
“The problem started when he got the armband at Celtic, he then started trying too hard to impress the coach, and he lost it. After Larsen came he felt too comfortable, and then started taking it easy since he felt that Larsen knew him better and he thought he had a good history with the coach. He then thought he would just play,” said the source.

 
The source signed off by in-sighting that the former BMC winger’s biggest setback was this season’s PSL second top goal scorer Lorato Lamola, who Larsen endlessly preferred ahead of Mogorosi.
“Joel felt too comfortable but little did he know that other players like Lamola were working too hard to get a place in team, and the coach chose the Lamolas of this world,” ended the informer.
The coach confirmed the departure of the lanky Zebras captain and the hard tackling Motswana midfielder Mogogi Gabonamong through the club’s website last week. “Joel and Mogogi’s contracts came to an end and we felt it would be prudent for us to let them go. We value and appreciate their enormous contribution, especially Mogorosi, thinking of his massive display when we won the Telkom Knockout Cup,” Celtic coach Clinton Larsen told the club’s website last week Monday.

 
In spite of the most unfortunate instances for Mogorosi, media reports in South Africa have shed that the player is not holding any grudges against his former employees, but instead remains a big Celtic supporter.

 
“I must concede that donning the green and white jersey was a revelation. Yes, I played for so many teams but the culture of this team is extraordinarily amazing. We failed in our last few games but the support and sheer encouragement we got from the supporters and the management was unbelievable.
“Clinton is an excellent coach with a great tactical acumen and it was great working under him. I have some Siwelele addiction and will remain a Celtic supporter even beyond my playing days. With the bunch of young players left behind, the team has an excellent future,” Mogorosi said to one South African soccer publication.
The 31 year old winger cum striker is currently in camp with the national team ahead of this weekend COSAFA CUP fixture against neighbors South Africa. He is currently linked with a move to Supersport United.