BIRDS HOPE FOR PSL APPROVAL THIS WEEK
“FROM Wednesday, if we perform what is expected from us by the PSL, I can confirm we will have a new team in the Absa Premiership – Swallows FC,” Panyaza Lesufi told the club’s faithful at a gathering in Soweto yesterday. He also confirmed the new name.
The Gauteng education MEC has been at the forefront of negotiations for a yet-to-be-disclosed consortium which bought ABC Motsepe League outfit Moroka Swallows and then acquired the Premiership status of Free State Stars.
Addressing a large crowd at the Ipelegeng Community Centre in Jabavu yesterday, Lesufi said they have asked for additional time to meet the requirements set out by the PSL and they expect things to be signed and sealed by Wednesday.
An official announcement on the sale will be made in the coming days, he said.
The pronouncement by Lesufi means Swallows FC will play in the PSL and Moroka Swallows, now known as the feeder team, will honour its fixtures in the Motsepe League. “We started this road 23 months ago. This team is now owned by South Africans without Leon Prins. The pains and sufferings you have gone through are over. This is the new Swallows. This is not the old Swallows where people did as they pleased,” Lesufi said.
“We are going to be professional. We will introduce a new membership system. We will open new supporters branches.
“We will give you all new jerseys and we will show people we can bring the numbers to the stadium. We need to have numbers to attract sponsors. We will also unveil the new emblem.”
Lesufi said Swallows FC, who have been linked with former Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund, will not be an old-age home where veteran players come to retire.