With indications that plans to rename Marumo Gallants to Bloemfontein Celtic have faced serious challenges, Kickoff has established the main stumbling block.
This website exclusively revealed that the Gallants hierarchy are allegedly involved with business new associates in forming a consortium that made a bid and acquired the DStv Premiership status of Moroka Swallows.
Sources in the know reliably told this publication that plans were afoot to rename the club to Celtic, as Bahlabane Ba Ntwa relocated to Bloemfontein.
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The powers that be of this business partnership have been engaging with Siwelele supporters, to get their vote of confidence in renaming the club ahead of the new season.
Celtic supporters have also themselves been holding meetings with regards to approaches by businesses to inherit their support base.
However, it has since emerged that Gallants have not been able to succeed so far in plans to buy the naming rights of Celtic from previous owner Max Tshabalala, who did not relinquish the trademarked name to Royal AM when he sold them the Premiership status three years ago.
Siwelele supporters are up in arms and have made their feelings known to the media and public that they do not endorse Gallants using their home base, Petrus Molemela Stadium, without their official involvement.
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Celtic card-carrying members, through national Chairperson Pule Mabena, have made their stance clear that they would only support a team relocating to Bloemfontein in the PSL, if they bear their name and contribute in the community through grassroots and development setups.
Kickoff has established that the reason Gallants could not acquire the Siwelele brand as things stand, is allegedly because Tshabalala has upped his asking price for the transfer of the naming rights, which were reportedly valued at R5 million and has also demanded a stake in the new formation.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa are set to hold a press briefing on Tuesday to announce their plans in detail ahead of the new season.