The Executive Mayor at the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, Olly Mlamleli, confirmed earlier on today that the municipality is still facilitating talks between members of the local business community with regards to the sale of the Bloemfontein Celtic soccer club. Speaking at a briefing at her chambers in Bloemfontein, Mlamleli said while the municipality does not have business interests in the club, it will do everything it can to use its clout and influence to ensure that the team stays within the city and province. Mlamleli further said that talks between members of the business community are still underway and appealed to all supporters of the club to keep calm until such time that a new decision is communicated to them.
“The sale of this team will affect both the local sports, arts, culture and economic spinoffs that we have over time built in our city and province. As the metro, we are in talks with the club, particularly with regards to the leasing of the Dr Petrus Rantlai Molemela stadium,” Mlamleli said. Mlamleli said that the metro was looking into whether or not it can afford to improve the pitch at the stadium, which she said is sub-standard compared to other stadiums in the country. While she could not state how much they as the metro would be prepared to invest in the fixing of the pitch, she said that fixing it was one way of showing the municipality’s support to the team by ensuring that it provides them with a high quality facility.
Pulane Choane
