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Phuthaditjhaba - Bloemfontein Celtic have their sights set firmly on the Nedbank Cup, said coach Clinton Larsen, after their 2-1 derby victory over Free State Stars at Charles Mopeli Stadium on Saturday.
Phunya Sele Sele lifted the Telkom Knockout trophy in December, and Larsen believed they could add another to their cabinet after booking their place in the quarter-finals.
''We want to win. Every team that goes this far in the cup wants to go on and win it and we are no different from the other teams," Larsen said.
"We would like to go all the way to the final and win the cup and give our faithful supporters something to smile about."
Celtic hit back in the second half, after Luyolo Nomandela put Stars ahead in the opening stanza, with Lyle Lekay finding the equaliser from a superb left-footed volley before Lennox Bacela netted the winner in the dying stages.
"Lekay is showing a lot of maturity and consistency. We are very happy with his form," Larsen said.
"We have a team of young talented players that have given me everything I want and have asked for in performance.
"I believe we are going from strength to strength."
Frustrated Stars coach Steve Komphela bemoaned his side's poor defence.
''We are continuing to concede crucial goals that are uncalled for," Komphela said.
"All goals Celtic scored against us, in both the Nedbank Cup and in the Telkom Knockout, were giveaways.
"I'm trying to find a goal which Celtic had really worked for, with the exception of Lekay's brilliant goal. He (Lekay) has a good technique and was left unchecked.
"We also had clinical chances with just the keeper to beat, as they did, but we failed to make anything."
Komphela said Stars, who are lying fourth in the Premiership, had some work to do to reach their best form.
"We can't go on like this, conceding unnecessary goals," he said.
"However, looking at our performance we played well and the beautiful goal we scored is an indication.
"For somebody who was watching the match I must say it was a good, entertaining match."
Elsewhere in last 16 clashes on Saturday, Kaizer Chiefs defeated Polokwane City 2-0 in Durban, and United FC secured a 1-0 victory over Jomo Cosmos in Tembisa.
