Windhoek
Former Brave Warriors striker Rudolf Bester could soon be rubbing shoulders with the crème de la crème of the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) after reports emerged that his club Moroka Swallows is looking to buy out a PSL franchise.
Swallows, one of South Africa’s oldest clubs, are set to play in that country’s second division this coming season following back-to-back relegations – first from the PSL during the 2014/15 season and then from the National First Division (NFD) last season.
News making the rounds in the South African media late yesterday was that of one of Swallows’ bosses, who was quoted in the press confirming that the club is in serious talks with two other clubs – one in the NFD and one in the PSL about selling their status to them for the coming season.
If Swallows fails to secure a deal with any of the clubs in the NFD or the PSL, it would mean they will have to win the Gauteng stream of the second division, before going into the play-offs, where they will meet eight other provincial winners, which will then see only two teams gaining promotion to the NFD.
After hopefully securing promotion to the NFD, Bester and his club will either need to win the NFD league and head straight to the PSL or at least finish second or third to go into the promotion play-offs, which would then decide their fate in SA topflight football.
South Africa’s leading football magazine, KickOff, earlier reported that Swallows were in talks with Chippa United to buy their top-flight status, while there have been whispers about Peter Shalulile’s Highlands Park, as well as Free State Stars.
Bester, who is the first and only Namibian to ever win the PSL with Orlando Pirates and equally the first Namibian to play against English giants Tottenham Hotspur during the 2011 Vodacom Challenge, joined the Dube Birds – as Swallows is known – on a short-term loan from Free State Stars where he played for the entire 2014/15 season.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Bester said he was not at liberty to disclose whether the club has offered him a new contract or not.