One of South Africa’s most iconic clubs could be about to fold following reports that SuperSport United have decided to sell their PSL status.
SuperSport have had a poor season and currently lie 13th on the PSL table with 26 points, just three better than Cape Town City, who occupy the playoff spot, meaning they are still not safe from relegation.
However, even when they survive, reports claim the club’s hierarchy have decided to sell its PSL status to a consortium that would see the rebirth of Bloemfontein Celtic.
Who is buying SuperSport’s PSL status?
According to SoccerBeat, Matsatsantsa are in advanced talks with a consortium led by Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie to have the club sell their PSL status to a new entity that would then rename it Bloemfontein Celtic, and move its base to Free State, completing the rebirth of the iconic club.
It would be a major shift in South African football that would see one of the most popular clubs fold in favour of another that was beloved before it went under.
Bloemfontein sold its PSL status to Royal AM in 2021 after experiencing some financial problems but the latter has since also encountered the same issues and got suspended from the top flight this season as the state finds a suitable buyer to offset a huge tax bill accrued by its owner Shauwn Mkhize.
Matsatsantsa have a rich legacy in Mzansi
However, McKenzie has been on the forefront of having the club return to the PSL and it is believed talks with Mkhize did not succeed but there is now belief that the sale of SuperSport will see the return of Celtic.
SuperSport came into being in 1994 when it purchased the Pretoria City franchise and has become an iconic club, winning three PSL titles, as many MTN8 crowns and five Nedbank Cups and also produced some of South Africa’s finest players.
Its sale would mark the end of an era in the PSL and also leave the Tshwane region with just one big club, being Mamelodi Sundowns, although the people of Free State would welcome the news of Bloemfontein Celtic’s return.
