Bloem tycoon eager to buy Celtic
‘It’ll be irresponsible to allow it to leave’
The protracted sale of Bloemfontein Celtic has taken yet another twist after it emerged that flamboyant Free State businessman Ben Moseme has expressed a keen interest in buying the club.
Moseme‚ who is the organiser of the popular Macufe Cultural Festival‚ confirmed he wants to take over the side but there is no deal yet.
“I am raising my hand because it would be irresponsible of me as a businessman and a resident of Bloemfontein to allow the team to leave [Bloemfontein]‚” said Moseme.
“I am assessing the situation and I will engage with the supporters and politicians in the province to see what is the best way forward.
“At the end of the day Celtic must stay in Bloemfontein even if I am not the owner; that is my strategic thinking.”
Moseme added that he has always been in contact with club owner Max Tshabalala.
“I am a businessman‚ I speak to Max weekly and he told me a long time ago that he is selling the club.
“We stay in the same area and I am one of the people who agree that it would be bad news for supporters if this respected institution leaves Mangaung. Potential Celtic buyer Ben Moseme is assessing the situation and plans to engage with the supporters soon.
“Over the past eight years there has been speculation that I could get involved with the team. Now Max is selling and I can’t just sit and do nothing about it.
“If it means I must go out there and get funding from the bank and other sources‚ then I will do that because it would be irresponsible of me to allow this club [to] go, he explained.”
Tshabalala’s attempts to sell the club recently failed due to a debt of R43-million he is believed to owe to the SA Revenue Service‚ and a complex situation of two companies being registered as Celtic‚ which scared off buyers.
A sale of R40m‚ of which a R22m deposit was to be paid three weeks ago‚ was terminated by potential new buyers Sinki Leshabane and Moeketsi Mosola last month.