Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa is reportedly on the verge of buying DStv Premiership side SuperSport United in a deal that is subject to approval from the South African Premier Soccer League’s executive committee.
SuperSport has long been mooted to be sold amidst the reported financial constraints at the club which has notably seen its business model change over the last decade.
Since winning three consecutive league titles between 2007 and 2010, the club has only finished once inside the top-three since but still managed to win six domestic cups.
However, their business model has seen them transform into a club developing promising talent and selling for profit to domestic rivals in recent years.
A consortium led by former Bidvest Wits owner Jose Ferreira was linked to a potential takeover at the club but according to South African journalist Maskepe Matsebane, Masiyiwa is closing in on acquiring the club ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Matsebane added that the move could also see Matsatsansa CEO Stan Matthews move into a full-time position in the same role for the PSL, a position that have been temporarily held by Golden Arrows Chairlady Mato Madlala over the past three years.
He added that the Zimbabweans will have no intentions of renaming the club should the takeover be successful but should the former hierarchy of Wits snatch the deal under his nose, there’s a potential rebrand and relocation on the cards.
Masiyiwa is one of Africa’s wealthiest billionaires with a net worth of US$4,4 billion.
According to data retrieved from the US business magazine Forbes, the leading billionaire has also surpassed South African mining tycoon Patrice Motsepe to become the richest Black billionaire in Southern Africa.
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