The National Chairperson of the Bloemfontein Celtic supporters, Pule Mabena, has shared some interesting views on the relocation of Marumo Gallants to Mangaung.
Free State will now have a team in the DStv Premiership after the Gallants, previously based in Limpopo, announced that they will be moving to the Province.
They recently purchased the top-flight status from Moroka Swallows who will now cease to exist. The Celtic supporters are known for their passion for football which was evident when Bafana Bafana played Zimbabwe this month.
It is also not the first time that Gallants will be playing their matches in the province after doing so during the 2022/23 season.
HOW THE BLOEMFONTEIN CELTIC SUPPORTERS FEEL ABOUT MARUMO GALLANTS’ RELOCATION
“We welcomed them with open arms when they were here two seasons ago. But all of a sudden they decided to go without a word. Now we are hearing from the media that they are coming back,” Mabena told FARPost.
“I can’t talk on behalf of all supporters but as a leader, you will understand how things work. I was the one who was supposed to be briefing the supporters but I am also clueless.
“Some supporters are feeling offended that people are talking on behalf of us about Marumo Gallants coming to Bloemfontein but the people of Bloemfontein have never been consulted. So I am not sure how the welcome will be,” he said.
“When they came here before we gave them a superhero welcome. We went to the hotel to welcome them and all that stuff but unfortunately, they just left and no one said anything.”
BLOEMFONTEIN CELTIC SUPPORTERS WANT MORE DETAILS ON THE NEW DSTV PREMIERSHIP CLUB IN MANGAUNG
“We are an organised structure of supporters. Maybe they [Marumo Gallants] are still busy with other logistics. But we were of the view that we would be the first to be consulted. So that when all these processes are unfolding we will be able to explain to our supporters exactly what is happening.
“But unfortunately, there is this rumour going around [of the relocation of Marumo]. But I am not sure if those people who are negotiating really know what the supporters of Bloemfontein Celtic want,” he said.
Mabena says there aren’t any demands from their side for their support of the club. But he also adds that those who are involved in negotiations do not understand what the fans want.
“That’s the first question. Do they really know what we want? Then my answer will be no, they don’t. If the government is involved, why did the government not come and not talk to us first if they are involved?
“Do they really represent us in their negotiations with the team concerned? I think they don’t know what we really want. People think we want football.”
“Going to the stadium supporting Bafana Bafana, D’General FC and all the teams we have supported. We don’t know the terms of the agreement between Marumo and whoever they are talking to. But all that we are expecting when they come to us is to tell us Marumo is here to stay and will remain in Bloemfontein, they will change the colours and all that staff.
“Then we will take it from there. We are not demanding anything because we don’t have anything. But we are the ones that are expected to fill up the stadium.”
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