Celtic doggedness won Maruping over
PERSISTENT phone calls from Max Tshabalala and Serame Letsoaka convinced midfielder Mpho Maruping to join Bloemfontein Celtic.
Maruping was unveiled with six other players to Siwelele supporters on Sunday after leaving University of Pretoria, who were relegated via the play-offs.
He has signed a two-year contract, with an option to extend, and is delighted that he will be working with his former national under-20 coach Letsoaka.
“The feeling is so great and I appreciate everything. I thank God for this opportunity,” said the 24year-old. “When the coach and the chairman [Tshabalala] call you, then it shows how interested they are in you. They were monitoring me and it shows they want me to play a role here.”
Celtic, who knew that Maruping’s contract with AmaTuks would be expiring at the end of last month, contacted the midfielder in the last six months of his contract.
“They contacted me while the season was still on, but I asked them to wait because I was focused on helping Tuks [fight relegation]. They contacted me again during the playoffs and I asked them to talk to me after they were done.
“They were determined to get me, so they contacted me after the playoffs and I decided to sign with them. I worked with the coach [Letsoaka] in the under-20 team and I know what he wants.”
The decision to leave AmaTuks was not easy, understandably so. Maruping joined Tuks as a teenager and won promotion to the elite league with them in 2012.
“It was difficult to leave. I did not decide everything in a day. I had to sit down with my family and make a final decision.
“I got promoted with Tuks, so it was a painful situation. I would have loved to be with Tuks, but as a footballer I want to improve. In the PSL games are shown on TV and you get to play in different competitions. NFD is a jungle, so going down with the team would have been tough. I don’t regret joining Celtic.”