Chronicle Editor
THE Premier Soccer League has confirmed AmaZulu’s acquisition of Thanda Royal Zulu’s topflight status with Usuthu now competing in the Absa Premiership this coming season.
The Durban-based side have finally completed the purchase of AmaBhubesi’s status after protracted negotiations that included the PSL as adjudicator.
A statement from the PSL read: “The club formerly known as Thanda Royal Zulu will campaign in the Premier Division of the League under the name AmaZulu Football Club and be relocated to Durban.”
The PSL further confirmed that “Richards Bay Football Club will campaign in the National First Division and be located in Richards Bay”, and that “the club formerly known as FC Cape Town will campaign in the National First Division under the name of Ubuntu Cape Town Football Club”.
Following numerous hold-ups involving incomplete paperwork and unsatisfactory terms, the deal has been approved by the PSL’s national executive committee.
Amongst the things the PSL could not overlook was Usuthu’s reluctance to take on any of Thanda’s players, but the issue has since been resolved with AmaZulu signing a number of players from the Richards Bay outfit in order to fast-track the process.
Thanda were promoted after an excellent 2016/17 campaign that saw them topping the National First Division standings by a hefty 12 points.
Meanwhile, AmaZulu ended the season in fifth place, failing to make the promotion play-offs, and prompting them to once again pursue the purchase of a club’s topflight status. Usuthu are coached by Zimbabwean Joey Antipas. — KickOff
Online Reporter