The local businessman, who requested not to be named yet, confirmed in a telephonic interview that he expressed interest in buying this soccer club with one of the biggest support bases in the country. He also said he had already sent documents declaring his interest to Tshabalala Attorneys - a legal firm owned by Max’s cousin, Mandla. 

The anonymous potential buyer joins a few local business owners, including Senki Leshabane and Ben Moseme, who were reported in recent weeks to have shown interest in the club.

OFM News spoke to Moseme, who has been reported to be the latest name among those interested in buying the club. Moseme is the owner of C-squared, the company that has been running the annual Mangaung Cultural Festival (Macufe) for more than a decade now.

Unconfirmed reports state that he paid the Celtic players who went on strike recently over outstanding signing-on fees. Moseme would not confirm nor deny the rumours on whether he is an interested buyer and instead requested to be given space until such a time he calls a media briefing on the matter. 

Meanwhile, Tshabalala Attorneys owner, Mandla, said he has not yet seen the required document papers from the latest potential buyer and could not comment until such time he does. 

“We have not received anything in writing yet. The thing is, we have a lot of people expressing interest in the club verbally but only a few are doing so in writing,” Tshabalala said. 

Max, on the other hand, declined to comment on the matter. Tshabalala's most recent reported attempts to sell the club failed due to a debt of R60 million he is believed to owe the South African Revenue Service (SARS). A sale of R40 million‚ of which a R22 million deposit was to be paid three weeks ago‚ was terminated by Leshabane and her partner, Dr Moeketsi Mosola, towards the end of last month. 

In a radio interview, Leshabane said that herself and Mosola had made a down payment of R3 million to purchase Celtic. The two buyers then reportedly retracted their offer following news that Tshabalala has two companies, which are registered as Celtic. 

Tshabalala is said to have met with Leshabane and Mosola last week Friday in a bid to resuscitate the deal that fell through.

OFM News/Pulane Choane