Kopo Discusses the Sale of SuperSport
Kwanele Kopo, the newly appointed head coach at the University of Pretoria and former assistant coach at SuperSport United, is heartbroken over the transfer of Matsatsantsa a Pitori’s ownership to a businessman in Bloemfontein.
On Thursday, SuperSport, the club’s previous owner, confirmed the sale to Siwelele Football Club, marking the end of one of South Africa’s longstanding top-flight teams and a significant symbol in the Betway Premiership.
The Tshwane team will be rebranded as Siwelele Football Club and will relocate to Bloemfontein.
In reaction to these changes, Kopo, who has dedicated 22 years in various roles at SuperSport, including serving as a reserve team coach, expressed the emotional burden of this news, especially for his former teammates who might now be facing job uncertainty.
“This brings a wave of emotions; it’s genuinely heartbreaking. I think about the colleagues I left behind and the players at the club. This morning, I came across a post highlighting trophies, with the caption ‘the end of an era,’” Kopo shared after being named head coach at the University of Pretoria on Thursday.
Though the Eastern Cape native is worried about the future of the club’s personnel, he is particularly distressed about the loss of the club’s legacy in nurturing talent over the years and its significant influence on both domestic and continental football.
“For me, it’s not solely about the trophies SuperSport has won; it’s about the lives we’ve changed, the young people we’ve uplifted, elevating them from one-room homes and shacks to creating multimillionaires through football,” Kopo elaborated.
“Perhaps that essence will continue, albeit under a new name and at a different location. Thus, it’s deeply painful for me, and I wish strength to everyone involved—players, staff, and those who provide sustenance for these young athletes—through this transition.
“I truly hope they receive fair compensation if they are facing separation from the club, but if this is merely a name change, I still wish the new club well. Nevertheless, SuperSport United is a name that will forever hold a special place in our hearts.”
He added, “What SuperSport has contributed to South African and African football is something many may find hard to replicate.”