SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews has opened up about the immense pressure the club faced in the final stretch of the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season, admitting that speculation around a possible sale to Bloemfontein Celtic added serious strain to a side already grappling with the threat of relegation.
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Matsatsantsa only secured their top flight status on the final day of the campaign, completing the second half of a previously abandoned fixture against Golden Arrows to climb out of the playoff spot and finish 14th on the log. Matthews says things could have played out very differently if off-field distractions had not disrupted their momentum.
"It's been tough for us. This group of players and this technical team, it was new and it was tough, and it's been very taxing on the staff, on everybody," he told members of the media after the game.
SuperSport started the season brightly and looked to be on course for a top-half finish before their form dipped dramatically. Matthews believes the squad’s early performances showed signs of promise.
"We started really great. We had a very dominant draw against Cape Town City. We probably had 60-odd percent possession in that game. We felt that we played solidly. We came out of that game and we drew the next game as well. We had three draws on the spin and then we got the win against Chippa."
"At that point, we thought we were out. In actual fact, to be honest, everyone in the team was talking about preserving our top eight run. We knew if we had won two of our last three games against Richards Bay, Pirates and Stellies that we would be in the top eight."
But instead of pushing for the top half, the club was soon engulfed by uncertainty when reports of a potential sale and relocation to Bloemfontein surfaced. Matthews says this unsettled everyone involved.
"Two weeks ago the rumours and speculation and all that kind of stuff came out. That was really tough because suddenly from being completely together and going through the wall, there were questions from players and agents and sponsors and the technical team."
"Suddenly I had a very anxious and concerned group. That's been tough."
According to the long-serving CEO, the stress of surviving relegation was already enough. The added weight of off-field noise made things significantly harder.
"Managing that has been tough. The anxiety and stress of staying in the league on its own is tough. But when you've got constant rumours that keep coming back and never go away in terms of the club, that's unsettling. It's destabilising for human beings."
Matthews, who has been part of the club for decades, pointed to the loyalty and dedication of his staff as something that made the uncertainty even more painful.
"Many of them have been with me between 15 and 24 years at the football club. They eat, sleep and breathe this football club. Their blood is blue and they've flown the flag high. They've helped this club win 13 major trophies, which is a fantastic record in the PSL."
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