LIMPOPO – The Vhembe-based businessman and owner of Glad Africa National First Division team (Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC (TTM)), Masala Mulaudzi on Saturday confirmed that he bought Bidvest Wits. TTM will join three other teams from Limpopo in the PSL: Black Leopards, Baroka and Polokwane City. The team will play their matches in the next soccer season of 2020/21.
Wits were in fifth position on the log at the time the lockdown was announced earlier in March. Mulaudzi first emerged onto the South African soccer scene in 2017 when he purchased the first division status of Milano United. The sale of Bidvest Wits must still be approved by the PSL executive committee. The status of the Glad Africa of TTM was already bought by the Sekhukhune tycoon, Simon Malatjie two weeks ago. The team will in the next soccer season play their matches in Polokwane.
Wits were due to turn a 100 years old in 2021. Mulaudzi confirmed that he bought Bidvest Wits, who played in the Absa Premier Soccer League, and that the team will be relocating to Thohoyandou. Rumours of the buying of Wits surfaced last month when Mulaudzi was apparently in talks with Wits management over a possible takeover. According to him, he bought the team to develop young players and unearth Limpopo’s talent.
He stated that he is confident that the people of Limpopo would help take his team to the highest level of football in the country within a reasonable period. The team will use the Thohoyandou Stadium as their homeground. He announced they have approached the PSL for an official name change ahead of next season. “Bidvest Wits will change to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC at the beginning of the new soccer season,” he said.
Mulaudzi also confirmed that the incoming management will find a new coach for the next season.”The former coach of Bidvest Wits, Gavin Hunt is definitely leaving,” Mulaudzi told CV. “We will begin with the process of finding a new coach next season, and possibilities will be a local coach.” He confirmed that a few of the highest-earning players have been allowed to talk to other teams before the club’s proposed move.
Mulaudzi said he wants to produce more players who can play for national teams and abroad. “The deal between us and Wits is done. It’s now all in the hands of the PSL. But we expect them to give us an answer soon and that they will speed up the process,” he said.
