List of South African soccer club franchise sales and name changes explained

South African Football clubs regularly changed their names. Former Premier Soccer League (PSL) Chief Executive Trevor Phillips complained that regular name changes and license buy outs was turning the PSL into a "mumbo-jumbo" league.[1] Clubs in the top-tier were sometimes bought by businessman and renamed to have the same name as a club with previous history. In May 2008, this was partially resolved when governing body FIFA stepped in to prevent clubs purchasing licenses to play in a higher league.[2]

In 2002, the league organisers opted to purchase two clubs; Free State Stars (Qwa-Qwa) and Ria Stars (Polokwane) and dissolve them to reduce fixture congestion. Each club was purchased for R8million.[3] Free State Stars were originally known as Qwa Qwa Stars. Another club known as Free State Stars F.C. has been established since. The owner of the original Free State Stars purchased a club in the lower divisions Maholosiane and renamed it to Free State Stars.

The club Dynamos sold their PSL license to AmaZulu who were formerly known as Zulu Royals in 2006. A new team known as Dyanmos F.C. was established in the wake of the sale in a lower division.

Tembisa Classic sold their PSL license to Maritzburg United

Wits University renamed their Premier Soccer League team to Bidvest Wits in time for the 2006–07 season. Bidvest, a major services, distribution and trading company sponsored the club for several seasons before purchasing naming rights to the club.

Original clubNew clubDate changedReason for change
Khakhu Fast XIMapate Silver Stars1998
Cape Town Spurs & Seven StarsAjax Cape Town1999Result of merger after Ajax Amsterdam buy out
Qwa-Qwa StarsFree State Stars1999
HP Silver StarsSilver Stars200xName was shortened, when the Highlands Park junior team stopped as a nursery team for the club.
Mapate Silver StarsHP Silver Stars2000Larry Brookstone, the owner of Highlands Park, bought the majority of shares. Despite the new ownership, the club continued to play at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.[4]
AmazuluZulu Royals2003
Basotho TigersNorth West Tigers2004
University of Port Elizabeth-FCK (UPE-FCK) & Port Elizabeth TechnikonNelson Mandela Metropolitan University-FCK (NMMU-FCK)2004Merger between universities.
HellenicBenoni Premier United2005
Wits UniversityBidvest Wits2006
Pietersburg PillarsCity Pillars2005
UthukelaNathi Lions2005
Tembisa ClassicMaritzburg United2005
Manning RangersFidentia Rangers2006
Mabopane Young Masters2006
PJ StarsM Tigers2007
Platinum StarsMay 2007Royal Bafokeng Nation (RBN) entered as the club's sponsor in 2006 and relocated the team to play at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng. Club name also changed, when RBN bought 51% of the shares in May 2007.
FC Cape Town2007
Benoni Premier UnitedThanda Royal Zulu10 October 2007
City PillarsMpumalanga Black Aces2007
Fidentia RangersIkapa Sporting2008
Mbekweni CosmosChippa United2010New owner's nickname was 'Chippa'.
Bay UnitedPolokwane City2012Club moved from Port Elizabeth to Polokwane.[5]
UthongathiMilford F.C.2022Uthongathi's National First Division license was purchased by Milford F.C..[6]
All StarsBlack Leopards2022Relegated NFD club Black Leopards purchased the status of All Stars to continue to play in the division.[7]
Moroka SwallowsMarumo Gallants2024Marumo Gallants purchased the Premiership status from Moroka Swallows[8]
Marumo GallantsLeruma United2024Leruma United purchased the National First Division status of Marumo Gallants[9]
Maritzburg UnitedDurban City2024Club moved from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.[10]
Original clubNew clubDate changedReason for change

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dynamos sale angers PSL boss . 5 July 2006. iol.co.za. 2 May 2010.
  2. Web site: FIFA changes statutes to tighten nationality loopholes. 30 May 2008. reuters.com. 2 May 2010.
  3. Web site: South Africa 2003/04. RSSSF. 2 May 2010.
  4. Web site: Platinum Stars club history. 9 December 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100610051443/http://www.platinumstars.co.za/the_club/history.asp. 10 June 2010.
  5. Web site: Rabothe . Tshepo . 2024-07-09 . Marumo Gallants president hits back at 'status buying' criticism . 2024-07-16 . FARPost . en-ZA.
  6. Web site: Munyai . Ofhani . 2023-07-01 . Another PSL club sold, this time in KZN . 2024-08-11 . FARPost . en-ZA.
  7. Web site: Makhaya . Ernest . 2023-05-10 . Black Leopards buy Motsepe Foundation Championship status! . 2024-08-11 . The South African . en-ZA.
  8. Web site: Rabothe . Tshepo . 2024-07-09 . Marumo Gallants president hits back at 'status buying' criticism . 2024-08-11 . FARPost . en-ZA.
  9. Web site: Munyai . Ofhani . 2024-07-27 . New club confirmed as PSL release first division draft fixtures . 2024-08-11 . FARPost . en-ZA.
  10. Web site: Sithole . Sinethemba . 2024-08-09 . Maritzburg United to be rebranded to Durban City, PSL approves . 2024-08-11 . FARPost . en-ZA.