The last time Bafana came to town: Dearth of top flight football hits hard in City of Roses

Thirteen years ago, during the euphoria of the 2010 World Cup, Bafana Bafana beat France at the Free State Stadium, but top flight football has since been dearly missed in the City of Roses, according to the stadium's facilities manager, Moyisi Bacela.

Free State Stadium will host Saturday's Currie Cup final between chief tenants, the Cheetahs, and the visiting Pumas as they battle for South African rugby's domestic crown.

However, since Bloemfontein Celtic closed shop two years ago and sold its Premier Soccer League (PSL) status to Shauwn Mkhize to form Royal AM from those ashes, Bloemfontein has been without a major football club.

Celtic played the bulk of their games at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Rocklands, but the club used the Free State Stadium for big matches against Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and Mamelodi Sundowns.

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Chiefs were slated to take a league fixture against Chippa United to the ground last season, but they moved that game to Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium instead.

The stadium hosted a few Marumo Gallants matches, along with the Macufe Cup fixture between Kaizer Chiefs and Royal AM last season.

However, that's been about it as the Free State is without PSL representation in the DStv Premiership, as well as in the Motsepe Foundation after Free State Stars sold its National First Division status to Casric Stars.

Bacela said they would be happy to host any team that is willing to bring a game to Bloemfontein.

"Usually, football use (of the stadium) was exclusive to Bloemfontein Celtic and the high-profile soccer teams in the DStv Premiership that would come here," Bacela told News24.

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