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IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Roc Nation Sports International sign young football prodigies across Africa
Welcome Mamelodi Sundowns starlet Siyabonga Mabena has signed with Roc Nation Sports International as the company expnd their African footprint. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix Image: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix Roc Nation Sports International (RNSI) have expanded their brand into the African football maret and have signed a number of teenage prodigies across six countries. In a statement, RNSI say the move follows extensive research and due diligence conducted over the past year. This vision aims to replicate RNSI's proven model around the globe, while maintaining a boutique approach to identifying and developing top young talent. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. 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. 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Next Stay Close ✕ The youngsters, from South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, The Gambia, Guinea and Zimbabwe are: Neo Bohloko (Striker, South Africa, Kaizer Chiefs) Ali Umar (Central Midfielder, Ghana, Koforidua Semper FI FC) Joseph Narbi (Winger, Ghana, Benab FC) Francis Gomez (Winger, The Gambia, Sibonor United) Ifeoluwa Olowoporoku (Attacking Midfielder, Nigeria, Tripple 44) Mamadou Diallo (Attacker, Guinea, Al Nasr) Tadiwa Chakuchichi (Winger, Zimbabwe, Scotland FC) Siyabonga Mabena (Winger/Attacking Midfielder, South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns) Mamelodi Sundowns' Siyabonga Mabena. Photo: Supplied Image: Supplied RNSI said they would also be looking at signing players from Ivory Coast and Zambia in the future. RNSI's Head of Global Recruitment for Football, Nathan Campbell, said it was an incredibly exciting occasion to celebrate this expansion project. 'We believe Africa is a hotbed of untapped footballing potential, and our expansion here is a natural progression of our global vision. Our strategy is built on deep collaboration with local partners, allowing us to understand and address the unique needs of African players, ensuring they receive the best possible support to reach their full potential. 'I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank the newest member of our RNSI football management team, Director of Africa recruitment Grant Veitch, who has been instrumental in the execution of this expansion project.' Kaizer Chiefs' Neo Bohloko. Photo: Supplied Image: Supplied RNSI first established a footprint in Africa in 2021 through a consultancy partnership with leading African club Mamelodi Sundowns, which successfully continues to this day. Furthermore, Emile Witbooi, one of South Africa's most highly-regarded young talents, recently signed with RNSI. The expansion into Africa follows RNSI's move into the South American market in 2023, when it acquired the Brazil-based TFM Agency. This strategic acquisition brought over 100 footballers under the company's umbrella, including Brazilian stars such as Vinícius Jr, Gabriel Martinelli and Endrick. Since opening its London-based office in 2019, Roc Nation Sports International has rapidly progressed to become one of the top 10 football agencies in the world, while boasting an impressive stable of global footballing clients, including renowned stars such as Chris Richards, Federico Dimarco, Luis Henrique, Kerolin and Malick Fofana. Roc Nation Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Ex-Kaizer Chiefs star enters rehab to address substance abuse
Seeking help Former Kaizer Chiefs star Kgaogelo Sekgota has entered rehab in order to deal with a substance abuse problem that's affected his football career. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix Former Kaizer Chiefs player Kgaogelo Sekgota, who had the football world at his feet at the beginning of the decade, has entered rehab in a bid to deal with substance abuse. This is thought to have scuppered a potential move to Morocco, where a club was keeping tabs on the 28-year-old, who currently plays for Motsepe Foundation Championship side Upington City FC. After impressing in the colours of Polokwane United in his youth, Sekgota found himself in Lithuania, playing for FC Stumbras. He then transferred to Portuguese Primeira Liga club Vitória, but lasted one season. He returned to South Africa in 2020, and after playing for Bidvest Wits and Moroka Swallows, he moved to Kaizer Chiefs in 2021, then to Stellenbosch FC, Magesi FC, and finally Upington. During that time, he struggled with his discipline.
IOL News
08-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
From Wits to Swallows: How PSL clubs have been bought, sold, and erased
99 years of history wiped out Bidvest Wits players celebrate with the Telkom Knockout trophy after winning in 2017. Three years later, the club disappeared from South African football when their status was bought by Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix Image: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix Last week, former league champions SuperSport United became the latest team to sell their PSL status. For the first time since 1994, the once-mighty Matsatsantsa – a team with a short but storied history, and who at times were the only team able to stand up to Mamelodi Sundowns – are no more. The news angered many fans and former footballers, shocked that a team which won three consecutive titles between 2008 and 2010 could be wiped out so suddenly. SuperSport United was bought by Calvyn Le'John, who was later revealed to be the son of Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie. Le'John's plans for the club include relocating it to Bloemfontein, where they will play as Siwelele United. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. He is also expected to invest up to R400 million in the project to revive football in the Free State. Soon after, it was reported that Cape Town City, who were recently relegated, were looking to buy someone's status in order to remain in the top flight. Due to the difficult financial situation TS Galaxy currently finds themselves in, they could be tempted to sell their status in order to keep the Citizens in the Betway Premiership. IOL Sport takes a look at some of the most high-profile status changes in the PSL. Moroka Swallows → Marumo Gallants (2024) Just last year, Marumo Gallants made their way back into the league when they purchased the status of Moroka Swallows, who themselves had only made it back to the professional ranks after buying another club's status. Bloemfontein Celtic → Royal AM (2021) One of the most high-profile cases where a status was sold was when Durban businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize bought the status of Bloemfontein Celtic after Royal AM failed in their promotion bid back in 2021. After two years in the league, things didn't go as planned for MaMkhize's team, as they found themselves in a financial hole that got them kicked out. Dynamos → AmaZulu (2006) AmaZulu were relegated from the top flight back in 2001/02. They returned briefly in 2003/04 as Zulu Royals, but were relegated again. In 2006, local businessman Patrick Sokhela bought the status of Dynamos, who had finished 13th in the league. Thanda Royal Zulu → AmaZulu (2016) AmaZulu were relegated again in 2014, and after failing to gain promotion back to the top flight, they bought out KwaZulu-Natal rivals Thanda Royal Zulu, who had won the National First Division. Bidvest Wits → Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) (2020) In 2020, the beloved name of Bidvest Wits disappeared from South African football just three years after winning the league. Wits, then the oldest club in the country at 99 years old, sold their status to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila. The club lasted just one season in the top flight before they sold their status to Marumo Gallants in 2021. Highlands Park → TS Galaxy (2020) TS Galaxy made history in 2019 when they beat Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup final, becoming the first team from the National First Division to win the competition. The following season, the team struggled in the NFD and could only manage 10th place. However, the following season saw them make the jump to the top division after buying out Highlands Park. They've been in the top flight ever since, but speculation is rife that they might sell their status to the recently relegated Cape Town City. Mpumalanga Black Aces → Cape Town City (2016) Cape Town City were founded just nine years ago after the club purchased Mpumalanga Black Aces and relocated the club to Cape Town. Amazayoni, as they were known, had finished fourth in the league during the 2015/16 season. More status changes Vasco da Gama → FC Cape Town (2007) Benoni Premier United → Thanda Royal Zulu (2007) City Pillars → Mpumalanga Black Aces (2007) Mbekweni Cosmos → Chippa United (2010) Bay United → Polokwane City (2012) Vasco da Gama → Stellenbosch FC (2016) These repeated status sales raise deeper questions about the integrity and sustainability of South African football. While club owners may see it as a business decision, it's the supporters and communities that are left betrayed. Unless the PSL re-evaluates its policies around franchise trading and puts heritage and supporter loyalty at the heart of its decisions, South African football risks losing more than just club names – it risks losing its soul. IOL Sport
The Citizen
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
The imminent demise of SuperSport is turning PSL into a mockery
It appears that only the so-called 'big three' – Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and Mamelodi Sundowns are financially self-sustainable. Stan Matthews, Chief Executive Officer of SuperSport United Football Club celebrates in tears with technical stuff avoiding playoff after Betway Premiership 2024/25 match against Golden Arrows at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on the 29 May 2025 © Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix The imminent demise of SuperSport United is a sad indictment of the current situation in our domestic game. A club with such a rich history and tradition should not be facing extinction. SuperSport's unfathomable demise The ripple effects of Matsatsantsa a Pitori potentially closing its doors are unfathomable. What will happen to their renowned youth academy, which has produced some of the finest talent this country has ever seen? ALSO READ: Liverpool football star Diogo Jota dies in car crash in Spain: police The club has reportedly been sold to a consortium based in Bloemfontein. At the time of writing, the sale had not yet been officially confirmed. However, the recurring trend of selling club statuses has become a norm in the Premier Soccer League, and that is deeply concerning. This practice is rapidly turning our domestic football into a mockery. It is high time a meaningful dialogue is held about the direction we're heading as a footballing nation. Of course, the financial strain of running a professional football club is enormous. Judging by the growing list of clubs that have disappeared over the years, doesn't seem likely to improve any time soon, What exactly is contributing to this troubling trend? Is it simply poor financial management from those entrusted with running these clubs, or has the task of sustaining a football club at the highest level become financially unviable? ALSO READ: Stellies snap up NFD top goalscorer Remember Moroka Swallows, Mpumalanga Black Aces, Bloemfontein Celtic, and Bidvest Wits? These are clubs that once carried the hopes of thousands, if not millions, but they all fell to the same fate that now seemingly awaits the three-time league champions SuperSport. It appears that only the so-called 'big three' – Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and Mamelodi Sundowns are financially self-sustainable. That in itself raises serious questions about the broader ownership model within the PSL. A German model? In Germany, the '50+1' ownership rule ensures that club members hold at least 50 percent plus one vote of the club's voting rights. This model safeguards clubs from being entirely controlled by outside investors, preserving both the heritage and democratic spirit of German clubs. Perhaps it's time we consider a similar framework within the PSL to protect clubs from vanishing without a trace. Fans are left in the wilderness when their beloved teams are sold off. If supporters had more influence in club operations, things might begin to change. We can shout from the sidelines all we want, but the truth is, the current PSL rules permit the sale of club statuses. The individuals or entities buying their way into top-flight football are not breaking any regulations. Unless the rules are changed, and the ownership structures are re-evaluated, there is no end in sight to this troubling cycle. We need urgent reforms that protect the integrity, history, and future of our football clubs. Fans, players, and stakeholders deserve transparency and sustainability. If we truly care about the growth and preservation of South African football, the selling of club statuses must be brought to an end or at the very least, strictly regulated. ASLO READ: Reported Chiefs target Okon seals move to Hannover 96 A serious conversation about ownership models, financial support, and long-term vision is not just necessary, but it's overdue. Let's not wait for another historical club to vanish before we act.
IOL News
15-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
A reflection of GBV within the sporting landscape
Where is the accountability? Former Orlando Pirates attacker Thembinkosi Lorch was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend two years ago. Picture: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix Image: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. After he served his two-week suspension, he resumed his career and earned a big-money move to Mamelodi Sundowns, where he won the league title during the 2023/24 season. He then moved to Wydad Casablanca. Currently, he's preparing to represent the Moroccan giants at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, which kicked off in Miami this Sunday morning. It seems that Lorch is off the hook, and his assault on his then-girlfriend has now been forgotten. Other footballers have been accused in the past, but charges were either not opened or their cases never made it to court. In a country where 33.1% of women aged 18 and older have endured physical violence in their lifetime, according to a report by the Human Sciences Research Council, sweeping Lorch's past transgressions under the rug paints a picture that the scourge of GBVF is not important. The Human Sciences Research Council report revealed that 33.1% of women aged 18 and older – amounting to over 7.8 million women – have endured physical violence in their lifetime. A fresh incident in everyone's mind is that of Manchester United player, Mason Greenwood. The forward was accused of raping and assaulting a woman. Image: AFP A fresh incident in everyone's mind is that of Manchester United player, Mason Greenwood. The forward was accused of raping and assaulting a woman. He was arrested in January 2022 after a video and images went viral. In 2023, BBC reported that the charges were dropped. According to SABC Sport, Greenwood has "revitalised his career in Ligue 1." Another soccer player, Thamsanqa Gabuza was arrested for allegedly trying to force himself on his then girlfriend. The former TS Galaxy player appeared in court and was granted Times reported that he has since moved to AmaTuks. Thamsanqa Gabuza was arrested for allegedly trying to force himself on his then girlfriend. Image: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix Dr Zubeda Dangor, of The Nisaa Institute for Women's Development, says it's important for clubs to publicly condemn gender-based violence and femicide and make it clear that such behaviour is not tolerated. Dangor feels that while there has been progress in condemning GBVF in sport, more could be done to promote gender equality and prevent GBVF. She urged clubs to develop clear policies, provide education, and collaborate with experts. 'Sports clubs and organisations should collaborate with experts, including GBVF specialists, law enforcement, and healthcare providers, to ensure effective response and support for survivors.' The three biggest clubs in South Africa were approached for comment, and to find out what measures were in place to combat GBV in South Africa. Only Kaizer Chiefs replied and said they would need until the end of the month to respond to IOL. What Dangor would love to see is clubs using their platforms to raise awareness and shift public attitudes towards GBV. She said social media campaigns can be used to share educational content, personal stories, and resources related to GBVF. 'By leveraging their platforms, sports clubs can play a significant role in raising awareness, shifting public attitudes, challenging myths, and supporting existing GBVF services,' she said. IOL
