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IOL News
22-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
#LetsFixSAFootball: Siwelele United move highlights South Africa's troubling club ownership trend
Seema Lehlohonolo was announced as the head coach of Siwelele United this pat weekend. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Calvin le John, the son of South Africa's Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, has added his name to a long list of businessmen who have followed their passion for football by acquiring the status of an elite league club. In purchasing SuperSport United — whom he has since renamed Siwelele United — Le John follows in the footsteps of numerous wealthy individuals who have taken advantage of South African football's disturbingly lax club ownership policies, which have contributed to the demise of several historically significant teams. #LetsFixSAFootball Image: Independent Media Le John's decision to take over SuperSport's status is actually an attempt to resurrect Bloemfontein Celtic, a club that vanished from the professional ranks after its status was sold. Unable to reclaim the original name, he has opted for 'Siwelele United FC', adopting the moniker most associated with Celtic in a bid to attract the club's passionate fanbase. But the critical question now is: which path will Le John follow? Will he emulate Patrice Motsepe, under whose stewardship Mamelodi Sundowns have become a continental powerhouse? For the city. For the people. Welcome, Coach 💚⚪#SiweleleFC — Siwelele Football Club (@Siwelele_FC) July 20, 2025 Or will he discover, like Max Tshabalala — who once owned Celtic before selling the club — that football in South Africa is rarely a lucrative business? Matshelane Mamabolo reflects on the chequered history of South African club takeovers and how they have often ended in disappointment or outright disaster. Bidvest Wits to Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila For close on a century, Wits University FC were a pillar of South African football, achieving milestones such as winning the 1978 Mainstay Cup by defeating Kaizer Chiefs in the first integrated domestic final. Wits produced top talents, including Gary Bailey, who went on to play for Manchester United, and remained competitive over the decades, claiming titles such as the BP Top 8, JPS, Coca-Cola Cup, and Nedbank Cup. Their final flourish came under coach Gavin Hunt, with a Premiership title to their name. But when corporate sponsors Bidvest pulled out of football, the club's status was sold to businessman Lawrence Mulaudzi, who rebranded it as Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM). His reign lasted just seven months — player salaries went unpaid, and he soon sold the franchise to what became Marumo Gallants. And so, a giant of the local game quietly disappeared. Mpumalanga Black Aces to Cape Town City Founded in 1937 and originally known as Witbank Black Aces, Amazayoni played an iconic role in South African football, producing legends such as Thomas 'Junior' Ngobe, Steve 'Disco' Makua, Amos 'Heel Extension' Mkhari and goalkeeper Cyprian 'Mahala' Mainame. They were runners-up in the 1983 Mainstay Cup final (a controversial loss to Moroka Swallows) and lifted the BobSave Super Bowl in 1993 with a dramatic injury-time winner against Kaizer Chiefs. The club underwent multiple ownership changes before John Comitis purchased their franchise in 2016, relocated it to Cape Town and rebranded it as Cape Town City. The club made a strong start in the elite league, winning the Telkom Knockout in their debut season, but were relegated via the play-offs at the end of the most recent campaign. Bloemfontein Celtic to Royal AM Doomed from the outset, Royal AM's purchase of Bloemfontein Celtic's status was shrouded in controversy. After failing to secure promotion through conventional means, Shaun Mkhize took the oft-travelled route and bought Celtic's status from a financially struggling Max Tshabalala. However, the union of showbiz and professional football quickly soured. Mkhize's failure to honour Samir Nurković's contract resulted in a Fifa transfer ban. Matters deteriorated further when the club was sanctioned by the South African Revenue Service, leading to suspension and eventual expulsion from the league last season. It was a deeply embarrassing episode for the PSL, who ended the campaign one team short — and a stark reminder of the urgent need for stricter regulations around club sales and ownership. Moroka Swallows FC to Marumo Gallants Before the formation of Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows were one half of the original Soweto Derby, alongside Orlando Pirates. The Dube Birds were a powerhouse of South African football and played in the top flight until their relegation in the 2014/15 season. They had an illustrious cup pedigree, winning the FA Cup under all its iterations — Mainstay Cup, BobSave Super Bowl, Absa Cup and Nedbank Cup — and claimed the Top 8 title three times. Having fallen into the amateur ranks, a resurrection attempt was led by former Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, who acquired the status of Maccabi FC. He could not initially use the Swallows name due to outstanding debts under FIFA supervision. Once the branding was restored, the revived Swallows competed admirably at first. However, when Lesufi became Gauteng Premier and stepped away from the club, its fortunes waned. Financial struggles meant players went unpaid, and Swallows could not complete their fixtures in 2023. The club eventually sold its status to Marumo Gallants.
IOL News
18-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Iqraam Rayners the hero as Mamelodi Sundowns hold off Ulsan HD to top Fifa Club World Cup group
Iqraam Rayners celebrates after scoring the only goal for Mamelodi Sundowns against Ulsan HD. Photo: AFP Image: AFP MAMELODI Sundowns beat Ulsan HD 1-0 in their opening match of the Fifa Club World Cup on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning South African time) to go top of their group after the favourites Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense drew their match in the United States of America. Iqraam Rayners scored the match's only goal to walk away with the Superior Man of the Match award as Keano Cupido pulled off a superb tackle late in the game to ensure there was no late drama to deny the Brazilians victory at the Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida. It was the kind of last-ditch clearance that could so easily have been reminiscent of the own goal Cupido's father Greg scored way back in the 1986 Mainstay Cup final to give Sundowns victory over his Jomo Cosmos. An Ulsan attack from the right saw a shot beating Ronwen Williams, and as the ball trickled towards the empty net, an on-rushing Cupido stretched full length to direct it away as an Ulsan striker loomed large looking to slide it in. That was the victory secured in a match that Sundowns could well have won at a canter. The South African champions could well have been over as a contest by halftime, with the Brazilians having breached the Ulsan defence three times. Rayners opened the scoring on 36 minutes with a right-footed toe-poke from close range, after he'd received a typically sublime through-pass from Ribeiro. Yet the Capetonian could have had a first-half hat-trick, as he got the ball into the net on two other occasions, only for VAR to rule out those strikes. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The initial one came just before the half-hour mark after he'd forced a corner kick with a shot from close range, which the Ulsan defender deflected away from goal. Ribeiro sent the set-piece right at the near post, and Rayners reacted quickest to the ball, but VAR showed the ball had come off his arm before going over the line past the flailing goalkeeper HW Cho. He made amends some seven minutes later, though, and thought he'd scored a second just shortly thereafter when his combination with Ribeiro again pierced the Ulsan defensive line open. The Brazilian's magic shone through yet again as he delivered yet another pinpoint pass to send Rayners sailing through, and the striker made no mistake in finding the net. It, however, turned out that he'd steered a fraction offside prior to Ribeiro releasing the ball, and the goal was annulled. The match was delayed for a little over an hour due to adverse weather conditions – there was an ominous threat of lightning – with the teams having to go back into the dressing room after the players were introduced onto the pitch one-by-one. The hold-up had no negative effect on Sundowns as they started the match sprightly and nearly scored on 23 seconds, but had their shot cleared away and their calls for handball got waved off. While they dominated play in the initial quarter hour, Miguel Cardoso's men played somewhat cockily, and often chose to make what appeared to be difficult passes – a ploy that led to them being under unnecessary pressure. As a result Themba Zwane, surprisingly starting the match after Cardoso iced him out of the CAF Champions League final, conceded a free kick on the edge of the box, but Derjan Bojanic wasted it. The Croatian then shot tamely at Ronwen Williams from right in front of the box after Sundowns's causal play saw them lose possession. It was soon the Ribeiro-Rayners show though as the striking duo combined to find the Ulsan net on those three occasions albeit just once legally. Teboho Mokoena nearly made it 2-0 with his trademark free-kick two minutes before the break but the keeper was alert and punched the ball away for a corner kick.
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
In retrospective: From Jomo Sono to Relebohile Mofokeng – Pirates' iconic Nedbank Cup triumphs
Jerry Sikhosana scored the last hat-trick in the Soweto Derby in 1996 during the BobSave SuperBowl (today's Nedbank Cup) semi-final for Orlando Pirates against Kaizer Chiefs. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Orlando Pirates have lifted the Nedbank Cup in each of the past two seasons, and a win on Saturday would see them complete their first treble under the current sponsorship of the competition. Kaizer Chiefs, meanwhile, haven't tasted Nedbank Cup glory since the 2012/13 season. As they prepare for what could be one of the most significant finals in the club's storied history, there's plenty on the line when they face off against the Buccaneers at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday (15:30 kick-off). As we build up to this massive showdown, we take a look at the top five moments Pirates have enjoyed in this competition over the years. Jomo Sono Mainstay Cup | 1980 final vs Moroka Swallows Following a dominant spell in the Life Challenge Cup, the Sea Robbers endured a four-season drought in the competition, making their return to glory all the more crucial in a high-stakes Soweto derby clash against Moroka Swallows. Orlando Pirates edged a thrilling 3-2 victory, with the decisive moment coming in the second half when Webster Lichaba was brought down in the box. Up stepped the golden boy, Jomo Sono, who calmly slotted home the penalty to break the 2-2 deadlock at halftime—securing the Buccaneers' first win of the competition in five attempts. Jerry Sikhosana | 1996 Bobsave Superbowl semi-final vs Kaizer Chiefs The two giants had previously clashed in the 1988 final, where Orlando Pirates claimed a 2-1 victory. Fast forward to their next major cup meeting, and Chiefs faced an uphill battle against a red-hot Pirates side that had just clinched the CAF Champions League title the year before. Jerry Sikhosana was unstoppable on the day, tearing through the Amakhosi defence with a sensational hat-trick, while Helman Mkhalele added a fourth to seal a dominant performance. That emphatic win sent the Buccaneers into the final, where they edged past Jomo Cosmos 1-0 to lift their sixth title in the competition. Thulasizwe Mbuyane | 2011 Nedbank Cup final vs Black Leopards Their triumph over Jomo Cosmos would prove to be their last Nedbank Cup victory for over a decade, as Pirates had to endure a 13-year wait before reclaiming the title—finally lifting the trophy again in the 2010/11 season after defeating lower-division side Black Leopards in the final. Thulasizwe Mbuyane stole the show with a brilliant brace, and alongside Isaac Chansa's contribution, the Buccaneers cruised to a commanding 3-1 win. The Limpopo-based outfit's only goal came via a Rooi Mahamutsa own goal. That victory marked a remarkable campaign for Pirates, who went on to complete a historic treble after also clinching the league and MTN8 titles under the guidance of coach Ruud Krol. Kermit Erasmus | 2014 Nedbank Cup final vs Bidvest Wits Chasing what would have been their eighth Nedbank Cup title, Pirates entered the final carrying the weight of a previous setback—having already fallen 1-0 to Chiefs in the MTN8 final earlier in the 2014/15 season. The Clever Boys drew first blood, heading into the break with a 1-0 lead thanks to a Jabulani Shongwe strike, and for the Buccaneers, it felt like deja vu as another cup final appeared to be slipping away. But Vladimir Vermezovic's halftime team talk sparked a transformation. Pirates returned to the pitch sharper and more ruthless, turning the tide with three second-half goals—Kermit Erasmus leading the charge with a well-taken brace and Sifiso Myeni solo goal sealing a memorable comeback. Relebophile Mofokeng | 2024 Nedbank Cup final vs Mamelodi Sundowns
The South African
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Nedbank Cup Roll of Honour: Every winner to date
The Nedbank Cup as we know it today has been around since the 2008 season, making this year's tournament the 18th of all time. The competition started off in 1971 when it was known as the Life Challenge Cup. In 1976 and 1977 it changed name to the Benson and Hedges Trophy, before been known as the Mainstay Cup from 1978 to 1987. From 1988 to 2002 it changed again, this time to the Bob Save Super Bowl. There was no competition held in both 1997 and 2002. Absa took over as headline sponsors of the Absa Cup from 2003 to 2007, after which fellow banking giants Nedbank stepped in from 2008 – to date. Orlando Pirates are the defending champions and are looking for a hat-trick of titles this season. They will take on Kaizer Chiefs in the final on Saturday, 10 May at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Kick-off is scheduled for 15:30. Along with Mamelodi Sundowns, the Buccaneers have four Nedbank Cup titles to their name. SuperSport United are next best with three titles. Moroka Swallows, Bidvest Wits, Kaizer Chiefs, Free State Stars, TS Galaxy and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila have all tasted success once. Orlando Pirates received R7 million in prize money for their latest triumph. 2008 – Mamelodi Sundowns 2008/09 – Moroka Swallows 2009/10 – Bidvest Wits 2010/11 – Orlando Pirates 2011/12 – SuperSport United 2012/13 – Kaizer Chiefs 2013/14 – Orlando Pirates 2014/15 – Mamelodi Sundowns 2015/16 – SuperSport United 2016/17 – SuperSport United 2017/18 – Free State Stars 2018/19 – TS Galaxy 2019/20 – Mamelodi Sundowns 2020/21 – Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila 2021/22 – Mamelodi Sundowns 2022/23 – Orlando Pirates 2023/24 – Orlando Pirates 2024/25 – Kaizer Chiefs / Orlando Pirates Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
