SuperSport United have finally been sold as widely expected with a new franchise taking over the side and giving it another name.
SuperSport International confirmed the sale of its Premier Soccer League (PSL) club, SuperSport to Siwelele Football Club (Pty) Ltd on Thursday, bringing an end to a glorious chapter.
Following a closed bidding process, Siwelele FC was awarded the rights to purchase the three-time PSL winners, pending approval by the PSL Executive Committee.
“The sale of the club comes as SuperSport makes strategic shifts to allow us to remain the biggest broadcaster in Africa and a leading global competitor,” said SuperSport CEO, Rendani Ramovha.
What has SuperSport said over the sale?
“Shifts in the market, as well as the need to innovate in accordance with our core business, have necessitated focused direction to allow SuperSport to remain the best sports content provider on the continent and a leader in broadcast innovation.”
Siwelele FC chairman Calvin Le John said: “As Siwelele FC, we are privileged to have been given the responsibility of continuing with a rich winning tradition in the PSL. SuperSport and the MultiChoice Group laid an incredible 30-year platform that we wish to build upon, should we get the final vote of approval from the PSL Executive Committee.”
Out of respect for the PSL Executive Committee’s processes, Siwelele FC, MultiChoice and SuperSport will not be making any further statements pending the decision of the PSL.
According to reports, Siwelele FC, who bought SuperSport for R50 million, is a consortium from Bloemfontein who are looking to have a team from the region in the PSL and have opted for the name after it failed to change it to Bloemfontein Celtics over legal issues.
Matsatsansta leaves behind a rich legacy
The club will likely take its base to Free State but an agreement is believed to have been reached to stay in Tshwane for at least one season before shifting.
It is the end of an era for SuperSport, a club that shaped the careers of many top players and coaches in South Africa, and won three PSL titles, from 2007-2010, five Nedbank Cups, three MTN8s and one Telkom Knockout.
Matsatsansta nearly suffered relegation from the PSL last season and only escaped in the final week but by then, a decision to sell the club had been reached.
PSL fans will now not be able to watch the Tshwane Derby that pitted SuperSport against Mamelodi Sundowns down the years following the sale that leaves Pretoria with only one top flight club.
