SuperSport United has announced the sale of its Betway Premiership franchise to Siwelele FC Pvt Ltd, the owners of Bloemfontein Celtic.

After thirty years of existence and three championships, SuperSport United will cease to exist once the sale is approved by the South African Premier Soccer League.

The new owners will merge the club with Bloemfontein Celtic to form Siwelele United.

Explaining the decision to sell the club’s franchise, SuperSport International’s CEO Rendani Ramovha stated:

“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.”

Meanwhile, this development leaves the future of Zimbabwean players Nokutenda Mangezi and Onismor Bhasera uncertain.

Mangezi’s one-year contract with SuperSport United expired on June 30 after joining the club last year from Real Betis Academy Zimbabwe.

SuperSport held an option to renew his contract for another year, but with new management taking over, it remains unclear whether they will retain the Zimbabwean youngster.

Long-serving defender Onismor Bhasera was recently appointed as an assistant coach. His future is also uncertain, as the new management may opt to make changes to SuperSport United’s technical team, especially since Celtic already has a coaching staff in place.

It also marks the end of an era for several Zimbabwean players, including Kaitano Tembo, Kingston Nkatha, Simba Nhivi, Washington Arubi, Evans Rusike, and the late George Chigova, who have all represented SuperSport United.