The Premier Soccer League's urgent circular to member clubs has raised speculation that a new sponsor could be coming on board ahead of the 2024/25 season.
The National Soccer League (NSL) sent an urgent circular to member clubs on Tuesday alerting them to put on hold the printing of the DStv Premiership logo on their shirts until further notice.
An urgent letter was titled: 'Immediate hold on DStv Premiership logo on kit until further notice'.
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"NSL circular informed Premier Division [clubs] to put on hold the process of finalizing their kit as the League is finalizing a new version of the Premier Division logo to be used on the right shoulder of the jersey this season.
"The circular relates only to the logo to be placed on the right shoulder of the jersey and does not mean Member Clubs should not submit their kit to the Football Department timeously as indicated," the circular read in part.
Kickoff has gathered, through reliable sources, that the general feeling within the clubs is that the PSL could be negotiating with a potential new sponsor ahead of the new campaign, hence the urgent circular.
Reports have been gaining momentum since last year that French company Vivendi SE, who owns media company Canal +, is in the process of buying MultiChoice, although they began buying shares in the South African company from 2020.
It has been reported that as of June 2024 Canal + owned 45% of MultiChoice shares, the parent company of DStv and Showmax, as their bid to own the JSE-listed firm has continued.
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Financial publications have been reporting early in the year that Vivendi approached South African mining billionaire Dr. Patrice Motsepe to join their bid to buy MultiChoice, due to regulatory issues, which prohibits complete foreign ownership of a company in South Africa.
According to rules on company ownership in the country, not more than 20% of the directors of a commercial broadcasting licensees may be foreigners.
And as explained by Cash N Sport, who revealed that Motsepe accepted the proposal to join the $2,9 billion bid (currently valued at R55 billion) to buy MultiChoice, the French company would then give the Mamelodi Sundowns billionaire owner a majority stake to fulfill the black ownership requirement in the country.
In conclusion, the PSL in their circular, wrote, "The League is dealing with the issue as expeditiously as possible and will keep you informed of developments".