One of local football’s worst-kept secrets is set to be confirmed later today, with SuperSport United announcing the sale of their status.
For most of the past campaign, rumours abounded that pay channel MultiChoice – who own the club – were keen to exit the football space, having already ended their sponsorship of the elite league via DStv. It is common knowledge that MultiChoice have faced financial difficulties in recent years, and there is speculation they may be acquired by French company Canal+.
Independent Media has reliably learnt that the sale of the club’s Betway Premiership status has been finalised at R50 million to a Bloemfontein-based consortium, reportedly including Sports and Recreation Minister Gayton McKenzie.
The group is intent on reviving Bloemfontein Celtic.
So @SuperSportFC are officially ceasing to t Tuesday, the club’s status sold I hear. Will it be Bloemfontein Celtic revived or @CapeTownCityFC resurfacing in the elite league a few days after losing their status in the playoffs?
— Matshelane Mamabolo (@Tshiliboy) June 30, 2025
However, there is a snag – the name Bloemfontein Celtic cannot be used. The club’s former owner, the late Petros Molemela, died with the title deed, and the new owners are unable to legally use the name. The plan is apparently to launch the reborn club as Celtic United.
SuperSport United, the three-time Premiership champions, endured one of their worst seasons since their formation 31-years ago, when they took over the status of Pretoria City. The club battled relegation throughout the campaign and sacked Gavin Hunt – the coach who guided them to those titles – midway through the season, replacing him with his assistant André Arendse, who also struggled to deliver results.
SuperSport needed to avoid the drop for the sale to materialise, and they managed to do so by finishing 14th – just above the relegation play-off spot – albeit in controversial circumstances. They ended level on 27 points with Cape Town City but survived on goal difference.
The decisive point came in a match against Golden Arrows which had been abandoned due to a power failure at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
Ordinarily, the fixture should have been awarded to Arrows as a 3-0 victory due to SuperSport’s failure to provide a generator. However, the PSL ordered that the remaining half be played. With no goals scored, the match concluded 1-1 based on the original 45 minutes – a result that earned Matsatsantsa a Pitori the point needed to stay up.
With the sale now complete, SuperSport United cease to exist, making way for the next chapter in Bloemfontein football.
