“Marumo Gallants will go down the same path as Celtic and Stars if they rely on PSL grant, only” – former PSL team administrator

Staff reporter

Bethlehem – The relocation of the newly acquired status of Moroka Swallows-turned-Marumo Gallants to City of Roses, has given the football-loving supporters in the city a glimpse of hope.

Free State is the only province without) a professional team since Free State Stars sold its status in the national first division to Castric FC at the start of the 22/23 season, a year after Bloemfontein Celtic sold its status to Royal AM in the 21/22 season.

That left a huge vacuum in the football-loving province as both Stars and Celtic enjoyed huge following.

It has been a rollercoaster for residents of the province as the National Soccer League responsible for cup games overlooked the province when it came to cup finals, with Kwazulu Natal; Durban, in particular, having hosted more cup finals than any other city followed by Mbombela.

Kwazulu Natal hosted these finals to boost their tourism and not lie on their laurels despite having four teams in the PSL.

All teams in the province also enjoy financial support from Durban Tourism with Royal AM also getting another financial support from Msunduzi Local Municipality.

Another team also getting financial support from the municipality is Chippa United in the Eastern Cape.

With Bloemfontein Celtic and Free State Stars last receiving financial support as it was publicly announced by former Premier, Ace Magashule, the teams suffered when the support stopped coming because that gesture, which continues to happen in other provinces was seen as a Magashule project and when the project collapsed, the teams demised.

In an exclusive interview with a former PSL administrator who asked to be anonymous, he gave blow-by-blow details of how a PSL team can’t survive with grant money only.

“Running a professional team requires lots and lots of money, not only to survive but to compete.

To compete you need top-class players, look at Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and Mamelodi Sundowns. They have huge financial support.

When the now-defunct Bidvest Wits started winning under Gavin Hunt they had financial support and the same goes for Supersport United.

Now, WHEN Stellenbosch United owner, Johan Ruppert decides to spend money on the team you will see fireworks from that team.”

Asked about the PSL grant he said.

“The PSL grant is not enough, a team needs sponsorship be it from corporate or government otherwise it’s CHAI.

As a professional team and this differs from one team to another, salaries are a top priority, and travel and hospitality for away games don’t come cheap.

There is camping, booking of stadiums, security, EMS, etc, when playing at home. They all require money.

In conclusion without linking this to any club, we asked if a team can survive with support from attendance only he said.

“Never, whoever thinks supporters filling the stadium can keep the lights on needs their head checked at a mental institution.

On average, a team can sell out 7 home games out of 15. That’s nothing.

Even with ticketing, especially complimentary tickets, printing them is a cost let alone not making any profit on them.

So one thing to be clear of, Bloemfontein Celtic and Free State Stars can never be replaced no matter who buys statuses and changes names, and bringing a team to Free State without a solid financial plan and only based on supporters, you will go the same path both Celtic and Stars went.”

Will things hanging in the balance, we will unpack what really changed between when Celtic was owned the Augusti family to what literally was the demise of the team under the Tshabalala family.

The least said about the department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation the better, the department was fully functional under Webster Mfebe as MEC with Mathabo Leeto keeping the fire burning but after that, it’s been mess after mess.

This is a developing story.

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