ROYAL Bafokeng Holdings are prepared to sell Platinum Stars due financial challenges at the club – on condition that Dikwena remain in Rustenburg, North West.
Dikwena chairman Cliff Ramoroa said Bafokeng, a Batswana nation based in Rustenburg and owners of the club, were considering different models for running the team.
He said they were considering two options:
- Either they dispose of the club – sell it; or
- come up with a completely different model for running it.
Explained Ramoroa: “The reality is that the team would still be here (Rustenburg) and the supporters will not be affected. They would still get to enjoy their team here at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium where the fields are.
“If the time comes to sell, we will only sell to a local person. It will not mean a major change to the players and the technical team, not even the employees. It will just be a transaction of some sort or a different model of operating.”
He explained that the team is owned and run by the Royal Bafokeng Nation, which gets money from the mines and utilises it for community services.
“The country itself is experiencing financial challenges and this impacts on everyone in the country. We are not immune to such financial challenges, simple as that,” said Ramoroa.
“This has been going on for a very long time and the players have been addressed many times before. They are confident, which is why they are re-signing their contracts. They know it will not impact on them immediately.”
He said they were not talking to anyone to buy the team but “we are in the process of finding a model that we will use”. Once they have done that they could start talking to people and entertain offers to purchase.
“If things don’t go as quickly as we thought they would it will still continue,” he said ahead of their 2017-18 PSL season opener against Maritzburg United in Rustenburg on Sunday (3pm).
“Once we have finalised how the model will work we will look at the offers on the table.”
Should the new buyer want to change the name, Ramoroa said: “The PSL has rules, the association must approve the deal. The PSL Exco’s approval is needed.
“It is not just us simply disposing of the team. There is a process that must be followed.”
Ramoroa said he was addressing the media on this subject to quell mounting rumours that the club was for sale. “I am trying to clear up the rumours that we are selling the team.”
He also admitted that Stars were gradually losing their fanbase despite being a big brand: “We are struggling to attract new fans. Now we have engaged youngsters from schools and in the next six to seven years we will have a bigger supporters’ pool.”
Ramoroa unveiled new signings Dino Visser, Thabang Sesenyi, Luvolwethu Mpeta, Maboke Mathakala, Katlego Otladisa, Sibongakonkhe Mbatha and Brian Mwila, saying they would announce their final signing tomorrow.
