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The South African
03-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
SOLD: Sale of SuperSport United confirmed
SuperSport United have officially been sold to Siwelele Football Club and are waiting for the PSL to approve the deal. This was confirmed in a statement by SuperSport International on Thursday, which added that after a closed bidding process, Siwelele were awarded the rights to purchase the Tshwane side. 'SuperSport International would like to confirm the sale of its Premier Soccer League (PSL) club, SuperSport United, to Siwelele Football Club (Pty) Ltd. 'Following a closed bidding process, Siwelele F.C was awarded the rights to purchase the three-time Premiership 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. 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,''' said SuperSport CEO, Rendani Ramovha. Siwelele chairman Calvin le John said they are happy to have won the bid to purchase the club. '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,' Le John said. 'Out of respect for the PSL executive committee's processes, Siwelele F.C, MultiChoice and SuperSport will not be making any further statements pending the decision of the PSL.' Reports suggest that Matsatsantsa were sold for R50 million and will relocate to Bloemfontein in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season and will be called Siwelele FC. SuperSport United endured a horror 2024/25 Betway Premiership season, finishing 14th and narrowly avoiding the promotion-relegation playoffs. 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.
The Citizen
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
SuperSport United confirm sale to Siwelele FC
'SuperSport International would like to confirm the sale of its Premier Soccer League (PSL) club, SuperSport United, to Siwelele Football Club (Pty) Ltd,' read the official statement. SuperSport United have officially confirmed the sale of their Premier Soccer League (PSL) status to Siwelele Football Club. SuperSport United have officially confirmed the sale of their Premier Soccer League (PSL) status to Siwelele Football Club, bringing an end to months of speculation surrounding the future of Matsatsantsa a Pitori. SuperSport statement Little is known about the buyers, but United released a statement on Thursday afternoon confirming that the transaction is subject to approval by the league's Executive Committee. ALSO READ: OPINION: The imminent demise of SuperSport is turning PSL into a mockery The former three-time Premiership champions will cease to exist, in what is a sad day for South African football. The club was originally established in 1994 after M-Net purchased the status of Pretoria City FC. 'SuperSport International would like to confirm the sale of its Premier Soccer League (PSL) club, SuperSport United, to Siwelele Football Club (Pty) Ltd,' read the official statement. 'Following a closed bidding process, Siwelele F.C. was awarded the rights to purchase the three-time Premiership winners, pending approval by the PSL Executive Committee.' SuperSport CEO Rendani Ramovha said the decision to sell the club forms part of a broader strategic shift for the broadcaster. '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,' he said. 'Shifts in the market, as well as the need to innovate in accordance with our core business, have necessitated a focused direction to ensure SuperSport remains the continent's premier sports content provider and a leader in broadcast innovation.' 'A rich, winning tradition' Both parties have stated they will not be making further comments until a final decision is made by the PSL. However, Siwelele F.C. chairman Calvin Le John expressed excitement at the opportunity to take over the Pretoria-based outfit. 'As Siwelele F.C., we are privileged to have been given the responsibility of continuing a rich, winning tradition in the PSL,' he said. 'SuperSport and the MultiChoice Group laid an incredible 30-year foundation that we hope to build upon, should we receive final approval from the PSL Executive Committee.' ALSO READ: Familiar face gets coaching job at cup-winning PSL side SuperSport will be remembered for winning the league for three successive years from 2007. They have also collected nine domestic cup competitions in their stint in South African topflight football, making them one of the most successful clubs in the PSL era.
TimesLIVE
03-07-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
SuperSport sold to Siwelele after 30 years in SA's elite league
SuperSport United have confirmed the sale of their status to Siwelele Football Club (Pty) Ltd. 'Following a closed bidding process, Siwelele was awarded the rights to purchase the three-time Premiership winners, pending approval by the PSL Executive Committee,' SuperSport said in a statement sent to media on Thursday. The sale follows intense speculation this week that SuperSport would be sold to businesspeople who have a desire to revive Bloemfontein Celtic, whose nickname was Siwelele before they were sold to Royal AM a few years ago. 'The sale of the club comes as SuperSport makes strategic shifts to allow it to remain the biggest broadcaster in Africa and a leading global competitor. Shifts in the market as well as the need to remain innovative 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,' said SuperSport CEO Rendani Ramovha. Calvin le John, chairman of Siwelele FC, said: 'As Siwelele we are privileged to have been given the responsibility of continuing with a rich winning tradition in the PSL. SuperSport and MultiChoice group laid an incredible 30-year platform that we wish to build upon should we get the approval from the PSL executive committee.' Both parties said they'll not comment on the matter until the PSL ratifies the decision in the coming days. It is expected that Siwelele will be based in Free State where Bloemfontein Celtic used to operate before they were sold. If it is not clear if the pending sale of MultiChoice to a French broadcasting company Canal+ is part of the reason SuperSport is selling after 30 years.
The South African
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Springboks set to make major announcement
In a statement that will have certainly caught the attention of Springbok fans, and indeed all rugby followers, SA Rugby have confirmed that there will be a groundbreaking announcement on Thursday. It is stated that this will be hosted in conjunction with the Ministries of Communications and Digital Technologies, and Sport, Arts and Culture, as well as SuperSport and the SABC in Sandton. The announcement will be broadcast live on both networks from 17:00 on Thursday, and in attendance will be Mark Alexander (President of SA Rugby), Rendani Ramovha (CEO of SuperSport), Nomsa Chabeli (Group Chief Executive Officer of the SABC). It's said to be an announcement in relation to the broadcast of matches, and one can imagine that the national broadcaster could well be in line to enjoy more rights to showcase Springbok matches. The Springboks will get their international season under way against Italy at Loftus this Saturday. The match will kick off at 17:10, and will be broadcast on SuperSport. Could it now also be on SABC? Watch this space. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. Springbok record against Italy: Played 16; Won 15; Lost 1; Points for: 764, Points against: 195; Tries scored 102, Tries conceded 16; Highest score 101-0; Biggest win 101 points. Win % 94%. Miscellaneous: The Boks have played Italy seven times in South Africa, but this will be the first Test between the sides at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, where the hosts have a 78% win record (32 wins from 41 Tests). Eben Etzebeth will extend his record as the most capped Springbok to 132 caps when he takes the field. Damian Willemse will play his first match for the Springboks since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand, which the Boks won 12-11. Should Willie le Roux take the field, it will mark his 99 th Test match for the Springboks, putting him in line to become only the eighth Springbok centurion in history. He made his Test debut against Italy in Durban in 2013. Test match for the Springboks, putting him in line to become only the eighth Springbok centurion in history. He made his Test debut against Italy in Durban in 2013. The Springboks have faced Italy 16 times and won 15 of those matches. Their only defeat was in Florence in 2016 where Italy pipped the Boks by 20-18. In the 15 matches the Springboks have won against Italy, they only scored fewer than 30 points on three occasions. The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 738 . . There are 351 caps in the backline, with 377 caps among the forwards. On the bench there are a further 466 caps. caps in the backline, with caps among the forwards. On the bench there are a further caps. The average caps per player in the backline is 50, the forwards 47, while the players on the bench average 58.
News24
21-06-2025
- Sport
- News24
Beloved broadcaster Phumlani Msibi, of ‘Thoughts Please' fame, dies aged 57
Broadcasting giant SuperSport and the South African Sporting fraternity are mourning the loss of celebrated commentator and presenter Phumlani Msibi, who died on Friday. The popular Durban-born broadcaster, who was synonymous with the phrase 'Thoughts please' when speaking to coaches and players in post-match interviews and his 'Halakasha' exclamation when goals were scored when he was on football commentary, succumbed to a short illness. He was 57 at the time of his passing. Msibi had carved out a niche for himself at SuperSport with this versatility, excelling in boxing and horse racing, while also moving seamlessly across isiZulu and English when commentating. Msibi, who came through the South African Broadcasting Corporation, quickly established himself at SuperSport in 2007 after they acquired the Premier Soccer League's broadcasting rights. SuperSport's chief executive officer Rendani Ramovha paid tribute to Msibi, saying his versatility and professionalism had endeared him to colleagues and friends alike. 'Msibi was one of the most beloved sports commentators SuperSport has ever had,' Ramovha said. 'He had a reputation as an outstanding professional, well-respected by his peers and colleagues and a respected family man. 'On behalf of SuperSport and the MultiChoice family, we'd like to express our heartfelt condolences to the Msibi family following this great loss. 'Msibi's loss will be felt not just by the broadcaster and football fraternity but by the whole sporting community at large. 'We are gravely saddened by his passing.'
