Latest news with #AndreArendse
IOL News
19-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
All well and good to ‘Pick ‘n Play', but think about safeguarding football's integrity
Days after Supersport United CEO Stanley Matthews celebrated with coach Andre Arendse after surviving relegation in Pretoria against Golden Arrows, the Tshwane club sold its franchise. Never again will the Matsatsantsa faithful ever see their beloved team in action again. While this practice may be tempting for investors seeking financial gain, it is essential to examine the detrimental effects it has on club identity, community connections, and the integrity of the game itself. A growing trend in the buy-and-sell practice of local club franchises has raised deep concerns. It poses a threat to the integrity of the sport that is woven through the nation's cultural fabric. As football holds significant cultural importance for countless supporters, the ramifications of this trend are substantial, resonating far beyond the pitch. At this time of the year, the landscape of South African football evolves, and not always for the better. Buying and selling Premier Soccer League (PSL) football club franchises has raised concerns about the integrity and stability of the sport. It has the potential to undermine its traditional structures and values. While such transactions can bring financial investment and potentially improve a club's standing, they also introduce risks such as financial instability, and loss of local identity. Loss of identity and community connection Clubs represent more than just teams; they embody the dreams, histories, and cultures of their communities. However, the buying and selling of franchises can severely undermine identity and community connections. Relocations to different cities or name changes often echo the whims of new ownership rather than the traditions that fans hold dear. For instance, when a beloved club is renamed or uprooted from its traditional home, it severs vital ties with its supporter base, alienating those who have stood by the team through thick and thin. Historical legacies are tarnished, rivalries diluted, and the emotional investment of fans is often disregarded. Loyal supporters can find themselves disconnected, leading to dwindling attendance and support for a team which has changed beyond recognition. Prioritising profit over sporting integrity With the potential for rapid financial returns, the acquisition of football clubs can create an environment focused squarely on short-term profits rather than sustainable sporting success. Critically, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) has faced scrutiny for its insufficient vetting of new owners, some questionably stable or motivated solely by financial ambition. This lack of due diligence raises concerns about the long-term viability of clubs linked to owners with a limited understanding of the football landscape. As clubs owned by financially unstable individuals struggle to meet player payments, their on-field performance also suffers, creating a vicious cycle of instability. The focus on quick monetary gains can eclipse the essential areas of long-term development and community engagement that are vital for a club's success. Undermining competition with franchise acquisitions A key tenet of football worldwide is the promotion and relegation system, a mechanism designed to foster competitive balance. However, purchasing a franchise effectively circumvents this structure, allowing less meritocratic routes to higher leagues. As the integrity of sporting merit becomes threatened, clubs might abandon youth investment and strategic planning in favour of simply acquiring a position in a higher tier, distorting the competitive landscape. Addressing the challenges ahead To address these issues and preserve the essence of South African football, several critical steps need to be taken. Firstly, the PSL must strengthen regulations by implementing rigorous vetting procedures for potential club owners, including thorough financial checks and background assessments. Moreover, protecting club identity should be paramount, with restrictions placed on relocations and name changes that adversely affect longstanding supporter bases. Encouraging sustainable ownership and responsible management is equally vital to establishing a landscape that prioritises long-term success over immediate financial benefits. Enhanced fan engagement also plays a crucial role; clubs must build robust relationships with their supporters and actively include them in key decision-making processes. By addressing these urgent issues, South African football can aspire to a more sustainable and competitive future, where clubs are cherished for their sporting achievements and their intrinsic ties to their communities.
IOL News
04-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
COMMENT: Why South African fans should be concerned about the sale of SuperSport United
Supersport United CEO Stanley Matthews celebrates with coach Andre Arendse after surviving relegation in Pretoria against Golden Arrows. Image: BACKPAGEPIX The sale of SuperSport United to Siwelele Football Club, pending PSL Executive Committee approval, has reignited an uncomfortable reality in South African football — one that has quietly unfolded over the past decade. Clubs are no longer preserved for legacy, community, or youth development. They are bought and sold like stock — and for fans, that's deeply worrying. SuperSport's decision to offload United after 30 years is not an isolated event. It joins a growing list of high-profile sales and disappearances that have reshaped the domestic football landscape. Bloemfontein Celtic was sold and rebranded. Bidvest Wits was bought out and vanished with 99 years of South African football history overnight. Highlands Park? Gone! Platinum Stars? Disbanded! Free State Stars? History! And now, even one of the most professionally run clubs in the league, with multiple league titles and a respected academy, has opted to exit the scene. The problem is no longer about struggling clubs at the bottom — it's about the very foundations of club ownership in the PSL. What makes this trend more concerning is the growing number of sales to individuals who have money, but little footballing vision. The sale of SuperSport United — to a company led by Calvin Lee John, the son of Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie — once again raises questions about the motive behind such deals. McKenzie has made no secret of his desire to revive Bloemfontein Celtic and restore football in the Free State. But it's unclear whether this deal is rooted in football ambition or political convenience. And that's the danger — South African football is increasingly vulnerable to being captured by people with deep pockets, but no real interest in development, sustainability, or the supporters themselves.
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Andre Arendse addresses SuperSport sale rumours
SuperSport United interim coach Andre Arendse has broken his silence on the rumours of the club's possible sale, admitting it... Stan Matthews, CEO of SuperSport United and Andre Arendse, caretaker coach of United after a Betway Premiership 2024/25 match against Golden Arrows at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on the 29 May 2025 © Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix SuperSport United interim coach Andre Arendse has broken his silence on the rumours of the club's possible sale, admitting it has had an effect on his squad. The comments came after Matsatsantsa a Pitori retained their Betway Premiership status with a 1-1 draw against Golden Arrows on Thursday afternoon. ALSO READ: SuperSport retain their Betway Premiership status The fixture was replayed three months after being abandoned due to a power failure. It resumed with just 45 minutes of the second half remaining. Despite the unusual circumstances, the draw was enough to keep SuperSport in the Premiership. The result sees United finish 14th on the log after collecting 27 points from a revised 28-game season. Cape Town City also ended on 27 points, but Arendse's men edged them out on goal difference. City will now enter the PSL relegation play-off mini-league alongside Motsepe Foundation Championship sides ORBIT College and Casric Stars, who finished second and third respectively. Speaking after the Arrows match, Arendse acknowledged that ongoing speculation surrounding the club's future unsettled the dressing room. 'The only thing I can tell you and this is a genuine answer. Those are things that are completely out of my hands and the team,' he said. 'Those are boardroom issues but did it have a negative impact on the team when it broke? Yes, of course. That is natural, you have people thinking about their futures, families, livelihoods and it's something that will weigh a little bit heavy on you. 'My job was to try and take that pressure and stress off the players in these last set of games that we had to get through and let them be free to play. I did that as best as I could but those things do weigh heavy. 'The board has not talked to me and said anything. We will continue as if we're a football club that still exists for now. Until those issues are confirmed one way or another, any answer I give you is speculation. To answer your question, you know just as much as I do.' ALSO READ: Bafana's Broos – I can't select Chiefs players Reflecting on the season, Arendse was candid about United's struggles. The club managed just six wins, alongside 13 losses and nine draws. Their lack of firepower was evident, netting only 18 goals while conceding 30. 'It has been a very up and down season. It has been a weird season because a lot of clubs will tell you that we played one game and had to wait another month for a game, Arendse concluded. 'We had breaks and we also waited for other games to be played. It has been a very tight programme and all of a sudden you are not picking up results for whatever the case may be. ALSO READ: Ahly confirm appointment of ex-Pirates coach Riveiro 'I will sit down and do a complete report about the entire season and think about where it could have gone wrong, when it could have been right and where we need to fix things if we are to come out of this situation as a club.'
IOL News
29-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
SuperSport United survive the chop following dramatic Premiership finale against Golden Arrows
SuperSport United endured a nerve-wracking 45 minutes to secure their place in the top-flight next season, playing to a 1-1 draw in the resumption of their Premiership fixture against Golden Arrows at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Thursday afternoon. The draw came at a crucial time, allowing Matsatsantsa a Pitori on 27 points to leapfrog Cape Town City on the same amount of points into 14th position, pushing the Cape side down to 15th due to a better goal difference. City will now wait to learn the outcome of an investigation in the NFD Motsepe Foundation Championship regarding Durban City's alleged use of an ineligible player to determine who they will face in the promotion play-offs. Abafana Bes'thende still had a mathematical chance of reaching the top eight, but it would have required scoring six goals in one half – a highly unlikely outcome, given their season average of less than a goal per game. The responsibility to guide Matsatsantsa to safety fell to interim coach Andre Arendse, who took over to complete the job left unfinished by then-head coach Gavin Hunt.
The Citizen
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Arendse wants error-free SuperSport in crunch final half
'There are a couple of elements that we've got to think about going into that game,' the SuperSport head coach told SABC Sport. Andre Arendse says his SuperSport side cannot afford to make a mistake against Golden Arrows. Picture: Philip Maeta/Gallo Images One half of football and no mistakes – that is SuperSport United head coach Andre Arendse's message ahead of the resumption of his side's crucial Betway Premiership clash with Golden Arrows today. ALSO READ: Pirates looking to end season on a high SuperSport go into the game needing a point to avoid finishing the campaign in the relegation play-offs. SuperSport's controversial waiting time The game was originally abandoned in February with the scores tied at 1-1 at half time, after a power failure at the Lucas Moire Stadium in Atteridgeville. After a controversially-long wait of about three months, it was decided that the game will resume where it left off. 'There are a couple of elements that we've got to think about going into that game. We're going to only one half. We go into it with one point already, which is more or less what we need, for example,' Arendse told SABC Sport. 'We have to go into the game with that mindset but at the same time, we cannot afford to be on the back foot. So, we cannot afford to close up shop because then we are going to invite unnecessary pressure and when you do that, you are prone to mistakes. 'We cannot afford one single mistake in that half of football that's to come.' SuperSport are helped by the fact that Golden Arrows sealed their survival in the Premiership with a 3-2 win over Sekhukhune United last weekend. Arrows' MTN8 longshot Barring an absolute thrashing of SuperSport, Arrows have no chance of sneaking into next season's MTN8. Arrows can get to 33 points with a win, the same points as Chippa United in 8th. But their goal difference is -12 to Chippa's -6. That means Arrows would have to beat SuperSport 7-1, scoring six times in 45 minutes, to leapfrog Chippa in the table. ALSO READ: Sundowns' Komphela – 'We won't drown in Sorrow' As such Mnqqithi's side have little to play for, leaving the onus on SuperSport to get a result and put Cape Town City in. the play-offs instead of them.
