Celtic delaying contract talks for Mogorosi, Gabonamong

The worst kept secret in the  South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) is Bloemfontein Celtic’s willingness to part ways with Botswana duo of Mogogi Gabonamong and Joel Mogorosi at the end of the current season. The Bloemfontein based club has decided to delay contract talks with the pair until the end of the term.

 
Both players have been marginalized by the club’s technical team this season as Gazette Sport reported last week. They have made a combined tally of eight starts this season to highlight the club’s reluctance to use them in their first team plans.

 
Celtic’s management informed South African media outlets that they will only discuss contractual issues with the players at the end of the season. Coach  Clinton Larsen’s remarks a fortnight ago seem to suggest that he will not need both players next season.

 
He stated that “All of our players are tied down so they won’t be going anywhere.” Larsen made those statements with the knowledge that Mogorosi and Gabonamong have not been tied down to contract extensions. Those statements could mean that he has already signed extensions with players he needs for the 2015/2016 season, excluding the Botswana pair.

 
Former club captain, Mogorosi has been sidelined due to the form of fellow forward Lerato Lamola. Mogorosi has always been the focal point of Celtic’s attacking formation but this season he has played second fiddle to his teammate.  Lamola is the PSL’s joint top scorer this season with 11 goals so far, he has been hailed as one of the best players in the South African league after his impressive exploits.

 
A source speculated that Mogorosi’s future at Celtic could depend on whether Lamola can resist interest from bigger clubs, the source predicted that the Zebras captain will only be offered a new deal if the club sells Lamola. Be that as it may, Larsen has declared his willingness to keep Lamola and that could trigger an exit for the former Mochudi Centre Chiefs player unless he accepts a bit part role similar to this season’s situation.

 
In an interview with this publication, Gabonamong stated that he does no expect to stay at Celtic. He once told this publication that he desires to return to Botswana and reiterated it this past Sunday. “I still want to come home but I will only do so if there is a club willing to make the right offer. I am still assessing my options, I could still end up in the PSL but not with Celtic. I have made it clear that I was planning for new challenges even if they had offered me a new deal,” Gabonamong stated.