SuperSport International has revealed that they have awarded the rights to purchase their stake to Siwelele Football Club (Pty) Ltd after months of speculation.
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The club’s owner revealed they had awarded the rights to purchase its stake to Siwelele Football Club (Pty) Ltd, who have ambitions to revive the famed Bloemfontein Celtic Football Club. The deal, pending the approval of the Premier Soccer League’s executive committee, will see the Pretoria-based club rebranded as Siwelele FC. SuperSport CEO Rendani Ramovha said they had lost the appetite for the football club. “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,” Ramovha said. “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.”
Reports state that Calvin Lee John, a close relative of Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie, bought SuperSport United, with the club set to undergo a radical rebrand. SuperSport’s long-time CEO Stan Matthews will retain his role, and the contracts of current club staff are expected to remain intact under PSL rules. The rebranded Siwelele FC will train in Johannesburg at Megawatt Park.
SuperSport United has been an ever-present since 1996, since the PSL was established. With 31 years, they have won 14 trophies, including three consecutive Premiership titles in the late 2000s. The club was originally known as Pretoria City before being purchased by MNet in 1994. M-Net received approval from the National Soccer League, and the club was renamed. SuperSport United developed a reputation for being a progressive club and a competitive contender in all competitions.
