Soccer
Tshakhuma FC officially relocated to Bloemfontein─── MORGAN PIEK 16:33 Tue, 14 Feb 2023
Motsepe Foundation Championship (National First Division) team, Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC, has officially confirmed that they have relocated to Bloemfontein and they will be playing their remaining home games in the city.
Tshakhuma FC has been spotted in Bloemfontein over the past week, leading to speculation that the team will relocate from Limpopo to the Free State.
It is said that the former Bloemfontein Celtic chairman, Max Tshabalala, is the brainchild behind the move, and this is an attempt to revive the once feared club.
The financial woes of Celtic were well-documented, and before the start of the 2021/22 season, the club's Premier Soccer League status was sold to Royal AM. Tshabalala is believed to still hold the naming rights to Celtic and Tshakhuma FC is expected to be rebranded at the conclusion of the current season.
On Tuesday, Tshakhuma FC confirmed via their social media platforms that as of Saturday, 18 February all of their home matches will be played at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium. The venue was once a fortress for Celtic and it was affectionately nicknamed the ‘Slaughterhouse’ due to its reputation as one of the hardest places for traveling teams to play football in South Africa.
In the past week, a Royal AM bus was also spotted in the city on several occasions, which has led to rumours that the status of the Chatsworth-based club could be restored and will lead to the return of Bloemfontein Celtic to the PSL.
The current PSL team, Marumo Gallants, has also been linked with a move to Bloemfontein and this is set to be discussed on Thursday night at a meeting arranged by the Bloemfontein Celtic Supporters Club. The relocation of TTM is also on the agenda for the meeting at Paradise Hall in Bochabela.
On Friday, when approached by OFM Sport, the chairman of the supporters’ club, Mabena Pule, declined to comment on the matter until he had more clarity, but he did make it known that the supporters and Tshabalala are not on the same page.
Tshabalala has been approached for comment on the matter and his response will be added in the event that he does.
Tshakhuma FC are set to host the current NFD log-leaders, Casric Stars FC, on Saturday afternoon, with this match in Rocklands kicking off at 15:30. Casric Stars bought its NFD status from Free State Stars at the start of the 2022/23 season.
Morgan Piek OFM Sport
