Kabelo Tlhabanelo
After he was approached by surviving founder Victor Mahatanya, Eddie Modise has become the second businessman to try and bring Bloemfontein Celtic back to the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Modise will have 55% of the club’s shares while the trust holds 45%, said Mabena Pule, the national supporters club chairperson.
Pule said they were still expecting Lebogang Mokoena, who previously claimed his desire to bring the team back, to come and explain himself.
The Bloemfontein Celtic supporters meeting was held on Sunday to discuss the future of the club at the Dr Rantlai Petrus Molemela Stadium in Mangaung.
A few months ago, Lebogang gave Siwelele supporters high hopes of bringing the team to its home city. But he never kept his promises.
“I kept calling Lebogang. He said the deal was in progress until I met with Modise who told me that Mahatanya has been asking him to buy the team since 2017. He told me that when he tried to buy it, it was too late,” said Pule.
A meeting was held between Modise and the team’s trust fund committee, he added.
“We wanted something tangible from him and he showed us financial due diligence and wanted us to sign a letter of intent with him.”
One supporter raised a point about the team not being removed from Bloemfontein.
Pule agreed and said another clause was that if either party wants to sell the shares, first preference will be given to the other partner.
Modise, who was born and bred in Bloemfontein, told the committee that he wanted the supporters to run the team.
“I trust the trust committee. It was a great pleasure to come here. I was touched to see appreciation from the supporters,” he told Scrolla.Africa.
