SuperSport United's sale leaves a void, but the academy sparks hope

The Pretoria-based club, renowned not only for its competitiveness in the top-tier, but also for its outstanding youth development, was sold by broadcasting giants MultiChoice - the club will now operate under new ownership—Siwelele FC, headed by businessman Calvin Le John—and be based in Bloemfontein.

The sale marks yet another major exit in local football following the dissolutions of Bidvest Wits and Maritzburg United just to mention a few, adding to a growing concern about the commercial vulnerability of top-flight teams in South Africa.

MultiChoice, through its SuperSport subsidiary, defended the sale as a strategic realignment. CEO Rendani Ramovha cited the need to “remain the biggest broadcaster in Africa and a leading global competitor,” suggesting the company is doubling down on its media roots rather than maintaining club ownership.

But for many in the football fraternity, including fans, players, and coaches, the announcement felt more like an obituary than a business transaction.

SuperSport wasn’t just another Premier Soccer League (PSL) outfit. Since its inception in 1994, the club lifted three consecutive league titles (2007–2010) and numerous cup competitions.

More significantly, it became a national beacon for talent development, producing elite players for both domestic and international stages.

From Kermit Erasmus to Kamohelo Mokotjo, and more recently Shandre Campbell and Ime Okon, SuperSport’s academy became a trusted launchpad for young players with big dreams. The club’s international partnerships—most notably with Feyenoord in the Netherlands—helped talented South Africans secure opportunities abroad at a young age.

Even now, amid the sale, the club continues to send talent overseas. Campbell joined Belgian side Club Brugge last year, while Okon recently signed for Hannover 96 in Germany—testament to a pipeline that remains fertile.

While the club’s PSL identity is gone, the heart of the institution—the academy—will live on. The club’s CEO Stan Matthews confirmed in an interview with The Citizen that the development structures will remain intact at least until 2027.

“This is a moment of evolution, not disruption. Our academy is secure, stable and going nowhere. I will continue to lead the academy, as I have proudly done for the past 26 years,” Matthews assured.

He further teased a forthcoming partnership with a major international club, a move that could preserve and possibly enhance the academy’s reputation as one of Africa’s finest.

In truth, the sale of SuperSport has left a void in the PSL—a void not easily filled. While Matthews and his team fight to preserve the academy’s excellence, the departure of a club with such an enviable blend of silverware, structure, and social investment is a sobering reminder of how fragile football institutions can be in the modern game.

SuperSport may no longer grace PSL stadiums, but the vision they nurtured lives on in every young player who still dreams of wearing the national jersey—and in every coach who believes in the power of development over quick results.

For South African football, it’s the end of an era. But perhaps, not the end of hope.