What will become of Platinum Stars?

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Apr 24, 2018. 18:00

Platinum Stars look destined for relegation from South Africa’s top flight and their future is an uncertain one.

Stars are bottom of the log (a position which condemns a team to automatic relegation to the second tier), seven points adrift of second-last Ajax Cape Town with just three rounds of the season remaining.

Mathematical confirmation of their relegation could be confirmed tomorrow night when they play at home to AmaZulu in a round 28 match.

Dikwena, though, still have hope that Ajax will be docked points for the use of striker Tendai Ndoro, who is alleged to be an ineligible player as the Cape side is the third club he has appeared for in the 2017/18 season, flouting FIFA rules.

There have also been rumours that Stars will relocate to the Cape – Stellenbosch in particular – after being bought out by a conglomerate earlier in the year.

At the time of the sale it was revealed that coach Roger de Sa is one of the conglomerate’s main stakeholders, making him a part-owner of the club, while supporters were assured that the team will not be relocating.

However, relegation to the National First Division may bring a change in this approach, with speculation that a relocation may be back on the table if and when the club suffers the dreaded drop.

And Stars are not the only club in the throes of such controversy, with Soweto side Moroka Swallows – who have plummeted down the divisions since the their drop from the top flight in 2015 – apparently keen on buying out NFD franchise Cape Town All Stars.

In addition, Alexandra United owners George and Mario Morfou (who used to own Black Aces) have reportedly purchased the NFD status of Stellenbosch FC.

The practice of buying out clubs has become all too common in South Africa’s football hierarchy, with the most blatant recent example being AmaZulu purchasing Thanda Royal Zulu a year ago after the latter had earned promotion to the top flight.