The end of Bidvest Wits?

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Jun 14, 2020. 14:00

According to reports this weekend, Bidvest Wits have had their Premier Soccer League (PSL) status bought out by second-tier team Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.

Known as the Clever Boys, Wits are one of the oldest clubs in South African football history and were PSL champions as recently as 2016-17.

If TTM’s purchase is given the green light by football authorities, Wits will be renamed and the entire franchise will move from Johannesburg to the Limpopo province.

In a number of tweets on Saturday, TTM claimed: “It’s official. We are officially a PSL team. Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila Football Club has completed the sale of Bidvest Wits with all its players.

“We have logged with the PSL for an official name change. The name will change from Bidvest Wits to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC as of the beginning of the new season. The team will play at the Thohoyandou Stadium as their home ground next season.”

Neither the PSL nor Wits have commented on the issue, though speculation over the sale of the university-based club has been rife over the past week.

If TTM’s takeover is confirmed, Wits will be the second iconic club to become defunct this season, with Bloemfontein Celtic’s sale to TS Galaxy set to be completed by the end of this month.

🚨 It is official 🚨

We are officially a PSL team

Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila Football Club has completed the sale of Bidvest Wits with all its players pic.twitter.com/JWmwkdYGC1

— TTM-FC Official Page (@TTM_Original) June 13, 2020

We have logged with the PSL for an official name change

The name will change from Bidvest Wits to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC as of the beginning of the new season

The team will play at Thohoyandou Stadium as their home ground next season pic.twitter.com/4r9y3j0Yq8

— TTM-FC Official Page (@TTM_Original) June 13, 2020