An already concerned South African football fanbase has been warned to prepare for more club ownership changes in the PSL ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Reports indicate that mining mogul Lester Makatoane from Jane Furse, near the rural town of Groblersdal, has purchased the Motsepe Foundation Championship side JDR Stars, with plans to relocate the club to Limpopo province.
The deal is pending approval from the PSL.
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Makatoane is known in football circles around the Sekhukhune District for organizing football tournaments through his company, Mahlopi Metals Group.
"We are aware of the news that JDR Stars has been sold, though at this stage it's just a rumour, and we hear that SuperSport United will have new owners very soon. This is the reason why 90% of our clubs lack history.
"Where is the rich history of Bidvest Wits today? It has just vanished," said FUSA secretary Taelo Motloung, speaking to KickOff.com.
"People enter football with the wrong intentions, thinking they can make money. This is not a lucrative industry. In football, you will rarely make money, especially if you start with limited funds.
"Some individuals come in with only R5 million, assuming that the R1 million NFD grant will be enough to run a professional club. They enter without proper research about the game. Football will leave your pockets empty.
"Before the new season begins, many people are still looking to sell. We still have teams, like Pretoria Callies and Kruger United, that haven't even paid their players salaries from last season. Do you think those clubs will reject any offers that come their way?
"And what will happen to the players and club employees if they decide to sell?
"The owner of JDR Stars was struggling to pay his players. Every time we return from the off-season, there are one or two clubs that have been sold, mostly in the ABC Motsepe League.
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"We went into the off-season with many clubs struggling to pay their players. That's the reality of South African football. The clubs that I manage to speak to have made it clear that they lack funds. So, expect more clubs to be sold," adds the former footballer, warning the the PSL grant is not enough to run a club.
"On the other hand, you want to attract the best players, who don’t come cheap. Don’t rely on the grant. That’s my advice to those who wish to run a club in the professional ranks."
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
