Just a few days after their relegation from the Motsepe Foundation Championship was confirmed, Black Leopards have bought the status of All Stars FC, iDiski Times has learnt.
All Stars relocated at the beginning of the season from Cape Town to Johannesburg after spending years in the mother city. The club went as far as changing the team name from Cape Town All Stars to All Stars FC.
A few weeks ago it was reported that the ‘Umlilo’ owners are ready to sell to anyone willing to buy the status, despite sitting in the top eight of Motsepe Foundation Championship.
This publication reported that in the beginning of April a R9 million offer was rejected by All Stars, but a few weeks later, there were salary issues for the first time in club’s history.
Even though they were quickly resolved by the club before facing Black Leopards, it is understood that it underlined the ambitions of All Stars chairman Lunga Ncwana to sell the status, but he was said to be holding out for R12 million.
iDiski Times has now learnt that All Stars sold their Motsepe Foundation Championship status to Black Leopards, and sources confirmed that Lidoda Duvha aim to keep some of the current All Stars players.
“I can confirm to you that All Stars sold their status to Black Leopards,” a source told iDiski Times.
“They are aiming to keep the current All Stars players and they will have a discussion with the coach [Sinethemba] Badela.”
When contacted for comment about buying the status of Umlillo, Leopards team manager Eric Muneri laughed and responded “we still have a game to play”.
It seems as though Leopard will be quickly back in the Premier Soccer League, with the Motsepe Foundation Championship and the DStv Premiership falling under the PSL banner. We’ll keep you updated!
Story by Sinethemba Makonco (@Makonco_M).
