There are certain moments in football when it would seem that no matter what happens on the pitch, the outcome of a game has already been decided.
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Think of Manchester United's amazing treble-winning season of 1999, which culminated in an unbelievable UEFA Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich.
Or Liverpool's dramatic come-from-behind Champions League win over AC Milan. When it's your day, it's your day. Or your season.
Some, such as Chippa United coach Farouk Abrahams, believe in a higher power.
"We could have played for 24 hours and still Ajax would have won, that was God's will on the day," he said after a recent Cape derby.
2012 was clearly marked down on the footballing gods' calendar as a year that Bloemfontein Celtic should lift some silverware.
And it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy in coach Clinton Larsen, who is always a pleasure to speak to and who makes himself available to the media at all times.
The fans too deserved their day in the sun, Siwelele being the example all soccer supporters should follow in this country: a passionate and vocally pleasing backing of the team through times good and bad.
There are often moments in a cup run or a title challenge when it would appear that the outcome is already written in the stars. Like Ryan Giggs' amazing solo goal in the FA Cup semi-final replay with Arsenal.
Looking back on Phunya Sele Sele's triumphant TKO story, there were occasions too when it seemed as if destiny had already been written.
Chippa United comeback
On a miserable rainy Sunday afternoon in the heart of the Cape Flats, Celtic dominated the first half but found themselves 1-0 down shortly after the break as Chippa took control of the opening 15 minutes of the second half.
The Cape side missed chances to extend their lead and the Free Staters rallied late on to secure victory, the come-back sparked by the unlikeliest of goalscorers as Dominic Isaacs netted 12 minutes from time before Jacky Motshegwa sealed victory.
Back from the death against Bucs
Going into the 89th minute, Celtic were 3-1 down to Orlando Pirates in a quarter-final TKO clash at the Free State Stadium.
But a well-taken header from Ruzaigh Gamildien in the final minute of regulation time and a superb bicycle kick from Joel Mogorosi in the final seconds of added time allowed the hosts to take the game to penalties, where again fate was on their side.
Goal-saving block in Free State State derby
Celtic twice allowed Free State Stars to come from a goal behind in the TKO semi-final.
Mogorosi then gave the Bloemfontein outfit a 3-2 lead in extra time, but Stars fought to the death and appeared set to take the game to penalties in the 119th minute when Dove Wome pulled the trigger for his hat-trick goal, but captain Thabo Nthethe had other ideas as he flung his body in the way to deflect the ball wide of goal.
By Anthony McLennan
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