After a failed bid to gain promotion to the country’s second professional rank, Black Cross FC has announced the end of its existence, with immediate effect, and will not be among the 17 clubs that will be competing in the ABC Motsepe League in the Free State.
A statement regarding the unsettling decision was issued on 12 August, a month before the start of the 2023-’24 season in the province.
The club becomes defunct after just three seasons, following the purchase of the Caledon FC franchise at the end of the 2018-’19 season.
“While the decision is not taken lightly, it has been rooted and shaped by an amalgamation of factors. Some of which are underlined by the number of dynamics Black Cross navigated as a football family these past two seasons.
“The triumphs and setbacks, the camaraderie that has been forged in the journey, have been the bedrock of our collective experience,” said Wanda Zama, chairman of the club.
The decision to disband or sell comes barely two months after losing the ABC Motsepe League championship to the unfancied Buffalo FC during the play-offs in Virginia. The winner failed to get promotion to the professional rank. The decision also came while a cloud of controversy was lingering.
This controversy originated from boardroom decisions by Safa, which cleared Black Cross of any wrong in their decision to field two players improperly registered in the most recent league competition.
They are Kamogelo Wolf and Theko Thako. Both had a stint with Mangaung Unite, who challenged the legitimacy of their registration without a Fifa International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from Lesotho’s football outfit, Bantu FC. However, Safa’s Free State disciplinary committee and national arbitrator ruled in Black Cross’ favour.
This just-ended season was the club’s third spell in the ABC Motsepe League. Earlier, the club was coached by Kagisho Dikgacoi – former Lamontville Golden Arrows, Bloemfontein Young Tigers, Crystal Palace, and English Premier League star player – and Jacob Mokhasi, former goalkeeper of the now defunct Bidvest Wits and Orlando Pirates.
The club’s highlight was reaching the Nedbank Cup tournament’s last 32 group stage, wherein it lost 1 – 2 to Venda Academy of Limpopo, in a match in Bloemfontein.
