Uthongathi FC chairperson Nompumelelo Nhlumane has confirmed the sale of the club’s status of the club to ABC Motsepe League side Milford FC in KwaZulu-Natal.
As previously revealed by this publication last week, Milford chairman Dr Xanti Pupuma purchased the Uthongathi’s status.
However, Milford will trade under the Uthongathi FC name this coming season but will use Milford gears because the new Motsepe Foundation Championship club missed the PSL deadline on 30 June as the deal was not done then.
Nhlumane then fired coach Papi Zothwane along with his technical team before confirming the sale over weekend.
“Yes, Uthongathi FC has been sold to Milford and what I like and fought for was to ensure that the status remains in KZN,” Nhlumane said.
“There is no more of Uthongathi. Now there is Milford and we are going to support Milford.”
Nhlumane added the talks did not take long before both parties agreed on terms and the PSL had approved the deal.
“The PSL has approved it and they approved on Thursday via email,” said Nhlumane, who was married to the club’s chairman Nicholas Mkhize, who was shot dead in 2018.
“From today the Uthongathi’s status belongs to Milford.”
Milford chairman Dr Pupuma was excited about finally having bought the status of Uthongathi FC.
“Excited, relieved, I’m short for words,” said Pupuma.
“Finally, eventually we are where we think we belong as a team. Hopefully we don’t disappoint, but I don’t think we are going to disappoint.
“We have been waiting for this moment for so long – the structure is in place, it is a matter of executing it.”
The club will be coached by former Thanda Royal Zulu mentor Asanda Mvalo, who has been with the club in the regional league in the ABC Motsepe League for some time.
Uthongathi won the 2016/17 ABC Motsepe League in KZN and gained promotion to the National First Division via a 1-0 play-off victory in the final against Super Eagles FC.
Ronnie Gabriel was the coach then, assisted by Pitso Dladla, and both were sacked recently by Richards Bay at the end of last season in the DStv Premiership, along with coach Vasili Manousakis.
