“I gave him (Panyaza Lesufi and his consortium) enough time to get their acts together and do the right thing by extending the deadline for proper channels to be followed. But by the end of this week, if there’s nothing tangible on table we shall call everything off.”
Lesufi, the MEC for education in Gauteng, has been the force behind the proposed purchase of Free State club FS Stars, owned by Mike Mokoena.
Over the past months, Lesufi, has been vocal about Swallows’ return to the elite division, going so far as to hold gatherings with supporters, assuring them new investors had bought the team.
He went to the extent of telling excited fans the club would be “back in the PSL by Wednesday” but it seems for now that’s not the case.
Yesterday at the press briefing, Khoza warned Lesufi- who says he respects fully- ‘that failure to conclude a deal would result in irreparable damage to the parties involved’.
“The media commentary that suggests Moroka Swallows is back in the league and Free State Stars are no longer a member is incorrect and regrettable,” Khoza warned again.
Lesufi, indicated he has a consortium to obtain Swallows back in the PSL, alongside investors from Italy, although that alone could not be confirmed.
Asked if he’s aware of such consortium, Dr Khoza said he did not.
“I only spoke to a gentleman who is a lawyer by profession but in this instance said was only a consultant with Italian accent, that he was facilitating talks. That’s all he said.
“These mishaps will completely put everything in jeopardy from fixtures to broadcasting and payments of players’ who are the main shareholders,” emphasized Khoza, during interview with Robert Marawa on Metro FM, yesterday.
Attempt to obtain comment from Lesufi did not materialize.
Meanwhile, rumour-mill has it that former NSL side Umtata Bush Bucks could be bought by Mokoena family, although this could not be confirmed at the time of publishing.
