Bethlehem is set to host Betway Premiership football for the first time in three years after Siwelele FC confirmed Goble Park as one of the clubโs home venues for the 2026/27 season.
Chairman Calvin Le John revealed that the historic venue will become one of Siweleleโs three home grounds, alongside Toyota Stadium and Dr Molemela Stadium, subject to PSL approval.
The move forms part of the clubโs vision to represent the entire Free State and reconnect top-flight football with one of South Africaโs most passionate football communities following the demise of Free State Stars.
Goble Park was once the home of Free State Stars, one of South Africaโs most storied clubs. Founded in QwaQwa in 1977, Ea Lla Koto lifted the Coca-Cola Cup in 1994 and the Nedbank Cup in 2018 before selling their National First Division status in 2022.
Their exit came just a year after Bloemfontein Celtic sold their Betway Premiership status, leaving the Free State without a professional football club for the first time in decades.
Le John has since spearheaded Siweleleโs return to the top flight after acquiring SuperSport Unitedโs Betway Premiership status. The businessman is determined to unite supporters from across the province under one banner.
WATCH: LE JOHN: โSIWELELE KE YA RONA KAOFELAโ
โSo historically in the Free State, we had two teams. We had Free State Stars and Bloemfontein Celtic as the biggest teams. Itโs not that people donโt want Free State Stars back; itโs just that people donโt have money,โ Le John told FARPost.
โBut in the absence of Free State Stars, we as Siwelele have realised that we are one team; we are one province. When Celtic was playing against another team, Free State Stars supporters would support us. When they were playing Siwelele, people would support them. This is us saying, โSiwelele ke a rona kaofelaโ.โ
Le John revealed that the clubโs ambition extends far beyond Bloemfontein, saying he would have taken Siwelele to even more communities across the province were it not for PSL regulations limiting clubs to three home venues.
โThe only thing that annoys me is the fact that the PSL limits you to only three stadiums. If we had six stadiums, I would have played in Welkom, QwaQwa, Botshabelo, Virginia and Bothaville โ all of them. But unfortunately, we only have three stadiums, so thatโs where weโre limited. Weโll play at Toyota Stadium this season, Dr Molemela Stadium and Goble Park in Bethlehem.โ
Siwelele will kick off their Betway Premiership campaign against TS Galaxy at Toyota Stadium on Sunday.
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